Joanna Lumley criticizes the Trump administration for pressuring the UK to lift a ban on importing trophies from hunting. The well-known actress, alongside fellow actor Peter Egan, voiced their concerns following a letter from Doug Bergum, Trump’s Interior Secretary, to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds urging a reconsideration of the ban.
Bergum argued that the ban could negatively impact hunting tourism, conservation efforts, and cultural sensitivities in the US. President Trump, whose sons are avid hunters, had previously overturned a similar ban introduced by Barack Obama in the US.
The Mirror has consistently advocated for a ban on trophy hunting imports, a stance supported by the Labour Government’s manifesto. Despite delays, Defra minister Mary Creagh reaffirmed the government’s dedication to implementing the ban last year.
Several attempts to pass trophy hunting Bills into law were unsuccessful due to time constraints in Parliament, with one Bill being obstructed by pro-hunting peers in the House of Lords. Dame Joanna emphasized the need for the UK to resist pressure from the Trump administration, stating that trophy hunting contradicts modern values.
Echoing her sentiments, Peter Egan described trophy hunting as a brutal remnant of colonial history and expressed shock at the government being influenced by the Trump administration. The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting founder, Eduardo Goncalves, condemned the US’s interference, emphasizing the overwhelming public and parliamentary support for the ban.
Goncalves highlighted the efforts of US hunting lobby groups in influencing UK policies and urged the UK to stand firm on the ban. He stressed the cruelty and outdated nature of trophy hunting, calling for swift legislative action to uphold the public’s wishes.
In his letter to Ms. Reynolds, Bergum emphasized the importance of well-regulated hunting, particularly trophy hunting, in wildlife conservation and economic support. He encouraged the UK to engage through established channels rather than implement a blanket ban on imports.