The House of Commons has passed the the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, introduced by Crawley MP Henry Smith last year to legislate for a historic ban on trophy hunting imports into this country.
A large number of constituents have been writing to me tirelessly about this issue since I was elected in 2017 and I am delighted the House of Commons has backed the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill. I could not be in the Commons for the vote on Friday, as I was on visits in Brentwood, but I am very pleased to see progress of this legislation which supports conservation and animal welfare and would ban body part ‘trophies’ of endangered and vulnerable animals from being brought into Great Britain. I know my constituents back the Bill and the House of Commons has been crystal clear in its support.
My Parliamentary colleague, Henry Smith MP said:
“The House of Commons passing this legislation today marks an important moment in ensuring that this pledge to support conservation becomes a reality. I’m grateful to the Government for supporting my Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill and I look forward to it now progressing through the House of Lords. Our country does not want to be part of a trade in the body parts of endangered species. Today the Commons sent this message loud and clear. On this day, my thoughts are very much with the family and friends of our late colleague, Sir David Amess, who was taken from us far too soon. Sir David was a tireless campaigner for the banning of trophy hunting imports. I hope that he would have been proud of this legislation being passed by the Commons today."
The Crawley MP and the Government accepted two amendments to the Bill at report stage; including the introduction of an Advisory Board on Hunting Trophies.
The Bill will protect animals listed by the internationally agreed Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Henry’s legislation would ban British hunters from bringing body part ‘trophies’ of endangered and vulnerable animals into Great Britain.
Being approved by MPs at report stage and third reading today marks the conclusion of the Bill’s passage through the Commons, ahead of it being scrutinised further in the House of Lords on a date to be confirmed.
