Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, has signed the open letter from Henry Smith MP to the Prime Minister, urging the Government to enact the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto commitment to ban trophy hunting imports.
This approach of 66 MPs and Peers follows Henry’s Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill falling in the House of Lords as a result of delaying tactics from a number of Peers.
Ben gave a speech in support of the Bill at its Second Reading in Parliament calling the practice 'abhorrent and immoral' and is determined to see through an important manifest commitment.
Ben Everitt MP said: “I was very proud to support the Hunting Trophies Import Prohibition Bill through Parliament and I'm delighted to sign the letter from Henry Smith MP calling on the Prime Minister to ban vile trophy hunting imports.
“Ministers have supported this Bill, but it will now fall as a result of House of Lords delaying tactics, so I’m calling on the Prime Minister to enact the manifesto commitment he stood on at the last General Election and introduce a Government bill to make the ban on trophy hunting imports become a reality.”
Henry Smith MP commented: “I’m very grateful that Ben has signed this open letter to the Prime Minister calling for the Government to introduce its own bill, following the support of ministers for my own Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill.
“The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill was approved by the House of Commons earlier this year. It was not in fact defeated in the House of Lords – rather it fell as a result of parliamentary procedure following the use of delaying tactics.
“Let us do right by our constituents, have the debate in both Houses, and work to get this manifesto commitment on the statute book.”
The Bill passed second reading in the House of Commons in November 2022, and passed committee stage in January 2023. On 17th March 2023 the Bill passed third reading, completing its passage through the Commons. On 16th June, the Bill passed second reading in the House of Lords, with committee stage commencing on 12th September.
Given there will be no further parliamentary time for this Private Members’ Bill, it will fall when Parliament is prorogued ahead of the State Opening on 7th November; leading parliamentarians including Ben calling on ministers to go further and introduce a Government bill.
Dr Jane Washington-Evans, from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, added: “The bringing back of body parts, so hunters can glory in their cruel sports is morally and ethically unacceptable. Animal abuse and kills for thrills is out of another century and it’s time to end the sick sports. Parliament as well as the British public overwhelmingly support a ban. This is why we are calling on the Prime Minister to honour the manifesto commitment and Her Majesty’s speech of 2019 and bring back the bill to ban trophy hunting imports immediately after the King’s Speech.”