Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, joined stars of stage and screen outside Parliament last week in a campaign to ban imports of hunting trophies.
Joanna Lumley and Downton Abbey star Peter Egan were among those to express their support for Gwynne and the ‘Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting’.
British trophy hunters shoot hundreds of endangered animals each year, including lions, elephants, giraffes and polar bears. The law currently allows British trophy hunters to bring their ‘trophies’ – including animals’ heads and bodies – back into the country to display in their homes.
Opinion polls show that almost 9 in 10 voters support a full ban on the practise.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“I am really proud to be supporting this campaign.
Trophy hunting is a cruel and barbaric practise and has absolutely no place in 21st century Britain.
Innocent animals are being killed, while the Government continues to dither and delay. We need a total ban and we need it now.”
Joanna Lumley said:
“Andrew Gwynne is representing the 9 in 10 voters who want to see an end to this barbaric, cruel industry. It should have been abolished long ago. What sort of world do we live in where
endangered animals can be killed for thrills by British trophy hunters? It is the height of cowardice. Andrew has my full support for this campaign.”
Peter Egan added:
“I applaud Andrew’s courageous campaign. The American gun lobby is fighting efforts to ban this evil ‘sport’ because it says hunters’ ‘rights’ should be protected. But what about the innocent, defenceless animals that are killed by British trophy hunters every year just for kicks? Andrew is absolutely right to stand up to the industry lobbyists and to speak up for voiceless animals.
Pictured: Gwynne and Egan outside Parliament last week