TORY HUNTING GAME CHANGER
Boris breaks promise to ban trophy imports
THE Tories have reneged on a vow to ban game hunters from bringing sick trophies home.
Boris Johnson said he would introduce the toughest laws in the world to stop hunters importing gruesome souvenirs such as lion heads and zebra skins.
Now the PM has gone back on that by ditching the Animals Abroad Bill.
Eduardo Goncalves, of the Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting, said: “It is one of the most shocking and senseless U-turns this government has ever made.
“It would condemn perhaps thousands of animals to being murdered by sadistic, psychopathic Brits who get their kicks from killing them.”
Banning trophies was a key pledge in the 2019 Tory manifesto. The proposed new law was unveiled in last year’s Queen’s Speech after a Sunday People campaign.
But Westminster sources say pressure on Parliamentary time because of the war in Ukraine has scuppered the plan.
The Tories have also been blocking a private Bill by
Labour’s John Spellar which would have seen hunters facing up to seven years in jail if they were caught smuggling trophies into the UK.
Mr Spellar said: “They are going to block my Bill again when it comes to the Commons once more on Friday. “But I intend to bring it back with a vengeance in the next session of Parliament because the overwhelming majority of people want to see this vile trade stopped.”
The new law would have protected more than 7,000 atrisk animals including polar bears, lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. The import of fur coats and shark fins would also have been banned, along with French foie gras.
Mr Goncalves said: “If this turns out to be true, it would be a shocking misleading of the Commons.
“Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised MPS that the bill is coming, as have his ministers.”
Polling last month showed that nine in 10 Tory voters would support a ban on trophy hunting.
A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to strengthening animal welfare standards and protections.”