The Tories have been urged to set out how they plan to ban trophy looking imports because the clock ticks right down to a common election.
The get together pledged to cease British hunters bringing again their sick souvenirs from capturing journeys overseas. But a Private Member’s Bill – supported by the Mirror – to introduce the ban was thwarted within the Lords, jeopardising strikes to introduce a ban. There are renewed fears the laws could not get on the Statute Book earlier than voters go to the polls.
In a letter to the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, seen by the Mirror, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow insisted: “The Government fully supported the Hunting Trophies Bill during its passage through Parliament. Whilst I recognise that there is considerable debate about trophy hunting of endangered animals, I share your disappointment that the Bill did not pass Committee stage in the House of Lords. We will continue working to deliver this important manifesto commitment, which has overwhelming support from MPs and the public.”
But she failed to stipulate how the Government will ship on the manifesto pledge. Explorer and animal rights campaigner Sir Ranulph Fiennes instructed the Mirror: “This farce has gone on long enough. It’s time the Government got on with the ban they promised to deliver in 2019.”
He mentioned “British trophy hunters are laughing at the delays and the blocking of the ban”, including: “They have gleefully carried on shooting lions, elephants, giraffes and hippos for ‘fun’. This has got to stop. The Government must bring back the Bill that fell in the Lords or bring in a new Bill as quickly as possible. We need tough action against these barbaric sadists. Nothing less will do.”
The Private Member’s Bill, led by Tory backbench MP Henry Smith, would have stopped looking vacationers importing animal skins, severed heads and carcasses after shoots overseas. But Conservative friends, together with some who help looking, delivered a string of prolonged speeches because the clock ticked in direction of the talk’s deadline within the House of Lords in September, which means it couldn’t proceed.
The laws fell when Parliament was prorogued forward of the King’s Speech in November, and ministers are but to disclose their plans for banning the imports.