Crunch time for trophy ban

Moves to ban trophy hunting imports are at a critical stage in the

House of Commons. The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, tabled by Conservative MP Henry Smith, receives its second reading on 25 November.

The bill has not been adopted by the Government and is instead being taken forward as a private members’ bill, which significantly decreases its likelihood of success. The procedure for allowing or preventing private members’ bills from moving forward is extremely complex, and their likelihood of success relies heavily on points of parliamentary procedure.

Meanwhile, African community leaders and scientists continued to emphasise the potential damage that trophy hunting bans could do.

A spokesperson for the Community Leaders Network explained:

“These proposed laws and policies are fundamentally hypocritical. Countries in southern Africa that allow regulated, legal hunting of African wildlife for the same reasons that hunting is allowed in Europe or the USA would be negatively affected. This double standard disregards African rights to the sustainable use of wildlife, while upholding the rights of Europeans and North Americans.”

46% Denys Watkins-pitchford

2% J N Sartorious

Wet, muddy footwear is all but inevitable at this time of year. You should clean, dry and condition leather boots before putting them away. Putting boots away wet or drying them too quickly are both routes to ruining them. Wet boots should be cleaned thoroughly and slowly dried before being treated with an appropriate leather care product.

Leaf and brash piles make excellent winter homes for hedgehogs, so if you can leave a few about they will be grateful. Equally, if you intend to burn any, you should carefully check for hibernating hogs first.

The bill would prohibit the import of hunting trophies — such as those of alpine ibex — into Great Britain Who is your favourite sporting painter? 15% Will Garfit 37% Alfred Munnings

Hedgehogs often make their winter homes in leaf piles