The trophy imports bill may be back. In an interview with former MP Henry Smith on GBNews, Nigel Farage revealed that the UK Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill will appear in front of the House of Lords during the week of 7 October 2024.
Former MP John Spellar, now Lord Spellar, plans to use his new title to relaunch the bill. He is one of many sponsors of this ‘cockroach’ bill, including Smith, who have suffered a defeat after defeat in Parliament.
The bill faces fresh criticism from scientists. On the same programme, lion specialist Professor Amy Dickman from Oxford University told Farage that a ban on trophy imports will not help conservation efforts and could harm them, as African landowners replace wildlife with cattle.
President Masisi of Botswana told reporters that the proposed ban is not only ‘condescending’ but also a ‘resurgence of a colonial conquest’.
Smith tried to claim that a trophy imports ban will help wildlife conservation, but Farage closed him down him with Professor Dickman’s points.
