Hunting Trophy Imports

Rachael Maskell Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2026 Westminster Hall

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair today, Mr Stuart. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst (Clive Efford) on his tenacity in pursuing this issue and his speech today. I know the passion the right hon. Member for Herne Bay and Sandwich (Sir Roger Gale) has for this issue and the hours and hours he has spent making the case in such a formidable way, as he has today.

The number of mammals in Africa has dropped 80% in my lifetime. Many are brought back dead to these shores, diminished to rugs and relics for the enjoyment of a few people who take pleasure in presiding over the extinction of some of the world’s greatest mammals. Parliament has long supported the banning of this practice, and it was an honour to serve on one of those Bill Committees when we last sought to legislate. However, that was unsuccessful due to the other place, and this sickening trade continues while other nations have brought it to an end. We should have led the way, not least in the light of the number of people from the UK who hunt. Instead, there has been painful dither and delay. We have to do this in this Parliament.

Across Europe and the world, laws on this are tighter. Britain is one of just four countries that still allow the critically endangered black rhino to be imported from hunts, alongside polar bears, cheetahs, lions, giraffes, elephants and leopards. Animal parts are being brought into the UK under this Labour Government. I urge the Minister to go back to her Department and place an immediate moratorium on the issuing of licences; that would be action before the legislation comes before us. This has to stop. We could see the extinction of some species in my lifetime if we do not. I congratulate the armed forces, who we send to Africa to support the patrolling of some of these reserves. But it seems unconscionable that we also allow the trophies to return to the UK.

We need to address this, but I want the Government to think about going further and making it illegal to advertise safari hunting and for anyone to hunt on those trips. Given the depravity that goes with this barbaric practice, people should face criminal charges. Those who promote the trips should have the full force of the law thrown at them. There is little point in banning the import of so-called trophies when people already have the photos, have destroyed their prey and, in some cases, have left the animals wounded and in pain. We have to stop the shooting and the killing.

The 30,000 endangered animals killed each year, the 10,000 lions killed since Cecil, who we heard about earlier, was brought to our attention, and the 2,800 African elephants killed in 2024 alone—their population has declined from 20 million at the start of the 19th century to just 400,000 today—show that our failure to legislate over decades has let the trophy seekers off the hook. Add to those the monkeys, gorillas and baboons, which share our DNA and are now the second most hunted species. That is shocking.

Labour Ministers need to get a ban over the line. When I was the shadow Secretary of State for DEFRA, we committed to an immediate ban as soon as we came into government. Two years of this Labour Government have passed, and we are halfway through this Parliament. We have to legislate. If the Government are looking for a quick fix, we can make the parliamentary time. Ban the imports, the adverts, the hunters and—one more—the publication of photos. We must make it a criminal offence for a UK resident to celebrate their kill on social media or in an advert—no carve-outs, no exceptions. There is no need for a new King’s Speech or manifesto—86% of the public support a ban. We must not delay, but be proud to see it through.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. A moratorium was the theme of many hon. Members’ contributions today, and I understand the strength of feeling behind that. We do not have the legal powers to stop trophy imports without primary legislation. That is why we are focused on doing this properly, so that the ban is clear, enforceable and robust, which requires primary legislation.

[Rachael Maskell]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I will make some progress, if I may.

I recognise that this is not always a straightforward issue. That is why we want to continue to engage with stakeholders representing different perspectives and to consider the evidence carefully as we develop a robust policy. That engagement has deliberately sought to build a balanced picture of the evidence, to ensure that the policy, when it comes, is robust, defensible and deliverable.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

Apologies, but I need to make progress.

My colleague Baroness Hayman has engaged directly with representatives of affected range states, including in discussions with representatives from southern African countries—Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and others—where concerns have been raised about the implications of an import ban for wildlife management, conservation and livelihoods. At the same time, she has met extensively with organisations campaigning for stronger action on trophy hunting, bringing together conservation and animal protection organisations to hear their evidence and concerns.

Although we may not be able to reconcile every view on this deeply contested issue, we can and must ensure that the policy we bring forward is informed by evidence, by the experience of affected countries and communities, and by those organisations that have rightly and tirelessly worked on these issues for many years. Engagement will continue as we work towards legislation that delivers our manifesto commitment.

[Rachael Maskell]

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. A point I raised in the debate was that the Government could place an immediate moratorium on the issuing of licences. Will she go back to the Department and raise that with civil servants, and ensure that the Government put that immediate moratorium in place?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution. I think I have made clear the point on a moratorium: we need primary legislation to ensure that we bring in a ban that is defensible and robust. I am happy to meet her to discuss the specific point she raises in further detail, but I hope I have been clear that we stand by our manifesto commitments and we are committed to bringing forward a ban when the parliamentary timetable allows within this Parliament. I am happy to meet colleagues to discuss this in further detail.