Keir Starmer is facing backlash from prominent figures and advocates for suspending the proposal to prohibit the import of inhumane hunting trophies following pressure from the Trump administration.
Advocates have disclosed that the ban, which was pledged in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, will not be included in the upcoming parliamentary session’s agenda. This decision comes after revelations that Trump’s associates pressed government officials to abandon the ban. Additionally, it was disclosed that the Labour government has issued 28 import permits to British trophy hunters since assuming power, including permits for African elephants, hippopotamuses, American black bears, brown bears, Nile crocodiles, giraffes, and lions. Various celebrities from the entertainment and sports industries have penned a letter to the Prime Minister demanding a “clear schedule” for implementing the ban during the new parliamentary session.
The letter was endorsed by notable personalities such as boxing legend Frank Bruno, singers Gary Numan and David Essex, TV personalities Nicky Campbell and Lorraine Kelly, actors Joanna Lumley, David Harewood, Felicity Kendal, Patsy Kensit, Miriam Margolyes, and Heather Mills, as well as Cliff Richard, England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, Delia Smith, and Chris Tarrant. The Rt Rev. John Arnold, the Bishop of Salford and environmental spokesperson for the Catholic Church of England and Wales, also supported the letter.
Dame Joanna Lumley expressed her dismay, stating, “It is heart-wrenching and utterly disgraceful that magnificent creatures are still being hunted down for their heads, skins, or tusks to be exhibited as trophies. These animals belong in their natural habitats, not as decorations in someone’s home. Britain must cease its involvement in this barbaric and outdated practice once and for all.”
Renowned broadcaster Chris Packham condemned trophy hunting as abhorrent and emphasized the missed opportunity to halt imports into the UK, urging the new government to uphold its mandate for change. Actor Peter Egan echoed similar sentiments, questioning the delay in implementing the ban and denouncing the cruelty associated with trophy hunting.
Despite delays, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) reiterated its commitment to banning hunting trophies’ importation. A Defra spokesperson affirmed the government’s dedication to introducing legislation prohibiting the import of hunting trophies from endangered species as soon as parliamentary time permits.
Eduardo Goncalves, the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting founder, highlighted the intense lobbying efforts by the Trump administration and hunting industry to obstruct the ban’s progress in the UK. US Interior Secretary Doug Bergum advocated against the ban to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, citing potential adverse effects on local economies and conservation initiatives. The Trump administration has also moved to ease hunting restrictions in national parks and wilderness areas, raising concerns about wildlife preservation and visitor safety.
Advocates emphasized the urgency of enacting the ban on trophy hunting imports, citing public support, parliamentary backing, and global trends away from trophy hunting practices. They called on Keir Starmer and other political leaders to prioritize the ban and fulfill the longstanding commitment to end the importation of hunting trophies in the UK.
