May 11, 2022, 00:07 am
Written by Jane Merrick
Published: May 10, 2022
A long-planned promise to ban the import of fur and foie gras was dropped from the Queen’s Speech as ministers caved into protests from some Conservative MPs.
The Government had pledged to introduce an Animals Abroad Bill to ban the controversial imports as well as outlawing tourism adverts for elephant riding.
It was reported at the weekend that Tory traditionalists had complained that the bans would be “un-Conservative”.
Instead the Government said it is committed to legislation to ban the import of hunting trophies from thousands of species.
But a coalition of 38 organisations, including the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming, Four Paws UK, Humane Society International and Save the Asian Elephants, said the failure to bring forward the bill was a betrayal of animals.
The organisations have launched a #DontBetrayAnimals campaign, which has conducted polling finding that the overwhelming majority of the public want animal imports banned.
Some 77 per cent want farmed fur to be banned, while 72 per cent want the Government to pass more laws designed to improve animal welfare.
Emma Slawinski from the RSPCA said: “We are deeply dismayed that the Government has gone back on its word to prioritise animal welfare by abandoning the Animals Abroad Bill, so that animal protection laws such as bans on imports of foie gras and fur will no longer go ahead, nor will bans on adverts for animal tourism practices involving cruelty such as elephant riding and tricks.
“The Government’s abandonment of the Animals Abroad Bill speaks for itself; it is a betrayal of animals and shows contempt for public opinion.”
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/queens...ch-1622914
Published: May 10, 2022
A long-planned promise to ban the import of fur and foie gras was dropped from the Queen’s Speech as ministers caved into protests from some Conservative MPs.
The Government had pledged to introduce an Animals Abroad Bill to ban the controversial imports as well as outlawing tourism adverts for elephant riding.
It was reported at the weekend that Tory traditionalists had complained that the bans would be “un-Conservative”.
Instead the Government said it is committed to legislation to ban the import of hunting trophies from thousands of species.
But a coalition of 38 organisations, including the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming, Four Paws UK, Humane Society International and Save the Asian Elephants, said the failure to bring forward the bill was a betrayal of animals.
The organisations have launched a #DontBetrayAnimals campaign, which has conducted polling finding that the overwhelming majority of the public want animal imports banned.
Some 77 per cent want farmed fur to be banned, while 72 per cent want the Government to pass more laws designed to improve animal welfare.
Emma Slawinski from the RSPCA said: “We are deeply dismayed that the Government has gone back on its word to prioritise animal welfare by abandoning the Animals Abroad Bill, so that animal protection laws such as bans on imports of foie gras and fur will no longer go ahead, nor will bans on adverts for animal tourism practices involving cruelty such as elephant riding and tricks.
“The Government’s abandonment of the Animals Abroad Bill speaks for itself; it is a betrayal of animals and shows contempt for public opinion.”
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/queens...ch-1622914