A Tory MP bidding to ban trophy hunting imports today urges Mirror readers to back his fight.
Henry Smith will try to make it illegal for hunters to bring their sick souvenirs to Britain.
His Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill returns to Parliament for its Second Reading this Friday.
Writing exclusively today, Mr Smith, who represents Crawley, West Sussex, says: “Thanks to the Daily Mirror’s campaign, a ban is backed by the Government, the Labour Party, the Lib Dem leader and by MPs of every party in Parliament.
“But the hunting lobby won’t go down without a fight.
“That is why I’m today calling on every Mirror reader to get in touch with their MP.
“Nine out of 10 voters say they want a ban – so now it’s time for MPs to hear directly from the people who elected them.”
The long-promised Tory ban would finally stop hunters bringing animal skins, severed heads and carcasses back to Britain after shoots abroad.
Hopes of an imminent ban were revived in May when a section of the Queen’s Speech pack outlining the Government’s priorities read: “We are … committed to legislation to ban the import of hunting trophies from thousands of species.”
But there was no indication of a timetable.
New Environment Secretary Therese Coffey is under pressure to back Conservative MP Henry Smith’s Private Member’s Bill introducing a ban - a measure included in the 2019 Tory manifesto and the party’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
Page 54 of the election blueprint pledged: “We will … ban imports from trophy hunting of endangered animals.”
Mr Smith writes: “Like most ordinary Brits, I cannot understand why anyone would kill an animal for ‘sport’ and a souvenir.
“It’s disgusting – and madness at a time when so much wildlife is at risk of extinction.
“That’s why on November 25 I’m introducing a Bill in Parliament which would stop British hunters bringing home their gruesome keepsakes.”
Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, said: “Henry Smith MP is speaking for every right-minded person in Britain in calling out trophy hunting for what it is - a vile and disgraceful relic of the past.
“On November 25 MPs can make history and stop these sick souvenirs from entering the country – and take the first step towards abolishing this evil trade once and for all.
“The Daily Mirror has led the way with this campaign - now it’s time for every single reader to contact their MPs and tell them to vote for Henry Smith MP’s Bill.
“We’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stop these wicked thrill-killers in their tracks; we won’t get another opportunity like it.”
'Elephants, giraffes, lions and monkeys are all victims'
Conservative MP Henry Smith writes exclusively for the Mirror.
In recent months, British trophy hunters have jetted off to South Africa to shoot lions and monkeys.
They’ve gone to Zimbabwe to hunt elephants and giraffes, to Tanzania to shoot hippos and leopards, and to Namibia to kill zebras.
They’ve even travelled to Canada and Russia to shoot bears and wolves.
Then they've brought their ‘trophies’ home – the feet and tusks of elephants, the bones of giraffes, the bodies of baboons, hippo skulls, bear skins – just to decorate their living rooms and brag to their pals.
Like most ordinary Brits, I cannot understand why anyone would kill an animal for ‘sport’ and a souvenir.
It’s disgusting – and madness at a time when so much wildlife is at risk of extinction.
That’s why on November 25 I’m introducing a Bill in Parliament which would stop British hunters bringing home their gruesome keepsakes.
Thanks to the Daily Mirror’s campaign, a ban is backed by the Government, the Labour Party, the Lib Dem leader and by MPs of every party in Parliament.
But the hunting lobby won’t go down without a fight.
That is why I’m today calling on every Mirror reader to get in touch with their MP.
Nine out of 10 voters say they want a ban – so now it’s time for MPs to hear directly from the people who elected them.
The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting has created a link which makes it easy to contact your MP directly.
Just go to www.BanTrophyHunting.org/action, enter your postcode - and have your say.
Sir David Attenborough once told the Mirror trophy hunting was “incomprehensible” - he’s right. Trophy hunting needs to be abolished.
A British ban on trophies is a big step in the right direction.
