MPS closer to ban on trophy hunt imports

A PROPOSED ban on trophy hunting imports has moved closer to becoming law, amid claims the reform risks being “racist” and a “step towards neo-colonialism”.

MPS voted 49 to zero, majority 49, to approve the revived Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill at second reading yesterday.

The Bill, sponsored by Labour former minister John Spellar (pictured) and supported by the Government, would ban the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern into Great Britain.

But critics have argued it ignores the concerns and conservation expertise of African countries and lacks scientific credibility. A similar Bill was blocked by a group of peers in the last parliamentary session, despite clearing the Commons.

Mr Spellar said there is an “overwhelming majority” of MPS and members of the public in favour of prohibiting the import of bodies of animals killed for sport. He told the Commons: “This is an issue that runs across parties, across classes, across regions. This is a universal view across the country that they want this country to have no part in this vile trade.”

A House of Lords briefing paper last year stated 190 hunting trophies from Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (Cites) listed species were imported into the UK in 2020. Conservative MP Henry Smith, who sponsored the previous Bill blocked by the Lords, said of trophy hunting: “It is not a natural practice of people in southern Africa, this is a neocolonial import that was brought to that continent during the time of colonialisation and is not something that is native.”

Mr Smith added: “It’s not unique to Africa. There have been some claims that somehow this is some racist legislation, this is telling countries around the world how to act and how to conduct their own hunting policy. Let’s just remind ourselves that this is a piece of import legislation. This legislation is saying we in this country by a clear majority choose not to want to allow the importation of body parts of endangered species slaughtered and killed by hunters into Great Britain.”

Conservative MP Sir Bill Wiggin said he wants to amend the Bill to “take any risk of racism away” from it. He said people should consider what African representatives have said about the proposals, telling the Commons: “I don’t believe anybody in this House intends to be racist but this Bill crosses the line.

“The Namibian environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has written to our Environment Secretary denouncing the Bill as a regressive step towards neo-colonialism.”