Joanna Lumley strongly criticized the Trump administration for pressuring the UK to revoke a ban on importing trophies from hunting. The renowned actress, known for her role in Ab Fab, along with actor Peter Egan, voiced their concerns after Doug Bergum, Trump’s Interior Secretary, wrote to UK’s Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, advocating for reconsideration of the ban.
Bergum argued that lifting the ban would negatively impact hunting tourism, conservation efforts, and cultural sensitivities in the US. Trump, whose sons are avid hunters, had previously overturned a similar ban implemented during Barack Obama’s presidency.
The Mirror has consistently advocated for a ban on trophy hunting imports, a stance supported by the Labour Government in its manifesto. Although progress has been delayed, Defra Minister Mary Creagh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the ban late last year.
Despite multiple attempts, bills proposing the ban on trophy hunting failed to pass due to time constraints in Parliament, with some pro-hunting peers in the House of Lords obstructing the process.
Dame Joanna Lumley stated, “The notion that the UK could be pressured by Trump’s administration to lift the proposed ban on trophy hunting is alarming and distressing. This barbaric practice has no place in a modern, compassionate society, and our government should uphold the wishes of the British people.”
Actor Peter Egan expressed shock at the pressure from the Trump administration to abandon a ban that enjoys overwhelming public support in the UK. He described trophy hunting as a cruel vestige of colonial history.
Baroness Hayman, responsible for crafting the ban legislation, reportedly engaged with US embassy representatives in London regarding the situation. Eduardo Goncalves, founder of The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, condemned the Trump Administration’s interference, emphasizing that the UK’s decision on the ban should be respected.
In a letter, Bergum urged the UK to reconsider the ban, emphasizing the role of legal, regulated hunting, including trophy hunting, in wildlife conservation and local economies. He encouraged the UK to engage through established channels rather than implementing a blanket ban on all imports.