As the UK gears up for the general election, the issue of trophy hunting has once again surfaced in political discussions. The Conservative Party, one of the major parties in the UK, has made several statements and commitments in the past regarding the ban on trophy hunting.
In their 2019 election manifesto, the Conservative Party pledged to ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals. This commitment aimed to address growing concerns over the impact of trophy hunting on wildlife conservation and biodiversity. The manifesto specifically stated:
“We will ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals and boost conservation efforts around the world.”
The Conservative government launched a public consultation in 2020 to gather opinions on the proposed ban on the import and export of hunting trophies. This consultation was a significant step towards enacting concrete legislation. The overwhelming public support for the ban indicated a strong societal consensus against trophy hunting.
As of 2024, there have been ongoing discussions and efforts to introduce the necessary legislation to implement the ban. The Conservative Party has continued to face pressure from animal rights organisations and the public to fulfil their manifesto promise and take definitive action.
The Labour Party Manifesto 2024 states “We remain committed to banning the import of hunting trophies.”
You can see the whole Manifesto here.
The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting ambassador recently wrote to election candidates to ask for their views. Click here to view responses, and find out how to speak directly to your local candidate about this issue.About the Author
