Campaigners blast 'time wasting' Tory peers as trophy hunting import ban stalls

13 September 2023 , 09:55

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Peers debated amendments to the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill for more than three hours (Image: Getty)

Tory peers were today accused of trying to derail a ban on hunting trophy imports.

Scores of changes to the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill proposed by Conservative backbenchers were branded "death by a thousand cuts" amid hours of debate. The Mirror-backed legislation would stop hunters bringing their sick souvenirs back to Britain.

But Tory peers, including some who support hunting, delivered a string of lengthy speeches as the clock ticked towards the debate’s deadline on Tuesday night. Time is running out to pass the Bill and it will collapse unless it receives Royal Assent before the end of the current parliamentary session - ahead of the King's Speech on November 7.

Wildlife campaigners criticised the delays. Humane Society International senior campaigns director Claire Bass said: “It is exasperating that a small group of pro-hunting peers has tried to hijack this hugely popular Bill that would deliver a Conservative manifesto commitment to ban hunting trophy imports. A UK ban on importing these sick souvenirs has the backing of the Government, the Commons and over 80% of the British public.” Hitting out at an “onslaught of time-wasting amendments”, she added: “The Government must keep its resolve and bring this Bill back to the Lords urgently to deliver the promised trophy hunting import ban.”

Four Paws UK director Sonul Badiani-Hamment warned “time is running out to discuss the Bill” and urged the peers to back down. She added: “If this small minority succeeds, not only will they thwart the wishes of Parliament, but this will impact at-risk and endangered animals around the world and wear thin the patience of the British public who have tirelessly demanded an end to the UK import of hunting trophies.”

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World Animal Protection Africa’s wildlife campaign manager Edith Kebesiimea admitted: “We are bitterly disappointed that the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill didn’t pass its committee stage. Trophy hunting is a cruel and bloodthirsty practice that benefits a small number of rich foreigners who plunder Africa’s wildlife for their own ‘entertainment’ with no regard for our local communities.”

Peers covered just five of 62 proposed amendments to the Bill during more than three hours. Conservative peer Baroness Fookes, who is steering the legislation through the Lords, said she "deplored” the move.

Democratic Unionist Party peer Lord Weir of Ballyholme said: "It would appear most of these amendments come from people who are vehement opponents of the Bill - and that's a perfectly legitimate position. But let's not pretend that the intention of these amendments is to particularly improve this Bill. I think their impact would be to create the death by a thousand cuts of the Bill and to create a range of loopholes across the Bill that would fundamentally weaken its purpose."

But Tory former minister Lord Hugo Swire denied the amendments and debate were “designed to wreck this Bill”. Backing the legislation, Environment Minister Lord Benyon said: "An import ban would address the public's concerns about imports of hunting trophies delivering a policy that is clear, comprehensive and practical to implement and enforce."

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Ben Glaze