Latest news with #FurFreeBritain
South Wales Argus
09-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Ruth Jones MP on need to ban fur imports and sales
We have a real history of leading the way on animal welfare. Two years ago, Wales became the first part of the UK to ban the use of snare and glue traps. Scotland then followed, and last year Labour committed to do the same in England. Twenty-five years ago, we did the same with the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act, raising the bar and setting an example for our neighbours to follow. Countries like Austria (2005), France (2021) and even Norway (2025) have all implemented 'fur bans' of their own, showing we were ahead of the curve. I am proud of our record on animal welfare. But before we absolve ourselves of being complicit in the fur trade, there is another step we can and must take: banning imports and sales. Two decades ago, we were right to ban fur farming on moral grounds – but still it is legal to import fur from beautiful, intelligent animals like foxes, mink and chinchilla. I have seen footage from a fur farm in Finland showing foxes with raw wounds, deformed feet and infected eyes. Then there were the obese, 'monster foxes' which were the result of selective breeding to increase their yield. Make no mistake – our ancestors may have used fur to survive the winter, but there is nothing natural about the fur industry today. Five years after covid, experts are warning us the next pandemic might come from one of these farms, where conditions are appalling for animals but perfect for viruses to mutate and make the leap to humans. This issue is urgent as the risk of a zoonotic outbreak looms large. I have been pushing for this change with my own piece of legislation, called the Fur (Import and Sale) Bill. If passed, it would ban the import of real fur products into Britain. Last week I carried a petition to Downing Street for the Fur Free Britain campaign with more than a million signatures and support from singer Will Young and TOWIE star Pete Wicks. Carrying the signatures to the famous black door, we were greeted by Chief Mouser, Larry, who showed great interest in our box. Afterwards an X account belonging to 'Larry the Cat' shared our photos, asking his nearly 900,000 followers to 'leave the fur wearing to the professionals'. I know Argus readers will agree that if an animal product like fur is too cruel to make in Britain, it's also too cruel to import from overseas. It is cruel and unnecessary, and high time we put the fur trade out of fashion. Ruth Jones is MP for Newport West and Islwyn.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
1.5 million signature petition to ban fur imports delivered to PM
A 1.5 million signature petition to ban fur imports and sales has been handed in at Downing Street. Newport West and Islwyn MP, Ruth Jones, delivered the document with support from animal protection groups and celebrities Will Young and Pete Wicks. The petition, which gained backing from Humane World for Animals UK, RSPCA, PETA, FOUR PAWS UK and Open Cages, supports Ms Jones's bill set for its second reading on June 13, aiming to halt fur imports into the UK. Ms Jones said: "If passed into law, my bill would end the UK's complicity in the cruelty of the global fur trade. "I am delighted today to join #FurFreeBritain campaigners to deliver more than 1.5 million petition signatures to show the Prime Minister how much support there is for this legislation." Fur farming was banned in the UK over 20 years ago, yet fur worth £30-£40 million is still imported annually. The bill proposes extending bans on trade from cats, dogs, and seals to include foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, chinchilla, and coyotes. The bill has substantial public backing, with 77 per cent supporting a fur import ban.
South Wales Argus
04-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport MP hands petition to ban fur imports at No 10
Newport West and Islwyn MP, Ruth Jones, delivered the document with support from animal protection groups and celebrities Will Young and Pete Wicks. The petition, which gained backing from Humane World for Animals UK, RSPCA, PETA, FOUR PAWS UK and Open Cages, supports Ms Jones's bill set for its second reading on June 13, aiming to halt fur imports into the UK. Ms Jones said: "If passed into law, my bill would end the UK's complicity in the cruelty of the global fur trade. "I am delighted today to join #FurFreeBritain campaigners to deliver more than 1.5 million petition signatures to show the Prime Minister how much support there is for this legislation." Fur farming was banned in the UK over 20 years ago, yet fur worth £30-£40 million is still imported annually. The bill proposes extending bans on trade from cats, dogs, and seals to include foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, chinchilla, and coyotes. The bill has substantial public backing, with 77 per cent supporting a fur import ban.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Horrific images from fur farm rescue prove UK import ban desperately needed
More than 330 animals were found on the site of the Grand River Fur Exchange in Ohio which also held captive wolf-dog hybrids, raccoons, skunks and opossums Terrified and starving foxes and coyotes were uncovered on a US fur farm - highlighting the suffering they endure before ending up as a bobble hat or trim on a parka coat. More than 330 animals were found on the site of the Grand River Fur Exchange in Ohio which also held captive wolf-dog hybrids, raccoons, skunks and opossums. Rescuers called it 'the most horrific' conditions they had ever seen. The desperate animals were held in filthy wire-bottom cages, exposed to the freezing conditions. They were being raised and slaughtered for fur fashion, the exotic pet trade and for their urine which is used in hunting, trapping, dog training and wild animal deterrent. Some of the animals were bred in captivity while others were apparently imprisoned on the property after being trapped in excruciatingly painful steel-jaw leghold traps, resulting in devastating industries such as missing limbs and paws. Many animals were emaciated and severely dehydrated, and several were found dead in their cages, covered in snow after the owner had died, escalating an already-dire welfare crisis. Adam Parascandola, vice president of Humane World for Animals' Animal Rescue Team, said: 'This is one of the most horrific situations I have ever seen—the terror and pain was palpable.' Singer Leona Lewis, 40, who is backing the Mirror's Fur Free Britain campaign to stop cruel imports into the UK, said: 'My heart breaks for what these poor animals will have endured on this fur farm, and on every fur farm like it around the world. It's a life of severe suffering and mental anguish, from which typically there is only one end - death for fur fashion.' She added: Thankfully, at this farm my friends at Humane World for Animals were able to step in and save lives, but for hundreds of thousands of animals on fur farms their fate is electrocution, gassing or even being beaten to death. Although we have banned this fur farm cruelty in the UK, we still perpetuate such suffering because we allow fur to be imported and sold in UK shops. "That's why I wholeheartedly support the Fur Free Britain campaign by the Daily Mirror and Humane World for Animals, and want to see Ruth Jones MP's bill to ban fur imports become law. We cannot ignore the suffering of these animals by continuing to trade in cruel fur fashion in the UK." Fur from animals cruelly farmed and trapped in the United States is sold domestically as well as exported around the world to countries including the United Kingdom. Documents found on the property indicate the owner sold fur pelts to Fur Harvesters Auction, the last remaining fur auction house in North America which exports fur globally to be used for home decor and fashion products such as fur bobble hats and trim on gloves or shoes. Despite fur farming being banned across the UK since 2003 for being too cruel, the UK still imports fur from North America, China, Finland and elsewhere in what campaigners at Humane World for Animals say is an unacceptable double standard. A Bill to ban such fur imports and sales, introduced by Labour MP Ruth Jones, is currently awaiting its Second Reading in the House of Commons next month. Afterlife and Downton Abbey star Peter Egan, 78, added: "Every outlet that supports the cruelty and inhumane treatment of these sentient animals by buying the fur, the skin and the lives of such beautiful animals. We ban fur farms in the UK because we know they are cruel. Stop importing cruelty now." Broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher urged the government to 'stop the suffering in the name of vanity and frivolous fashion items that are too cruel to be farmed here.' She added: 'Until we stop the imports, we are compliant in the horrific industry. Come on, the UK make a stance. We don't want any part in this sickening industry anymore.' PJ Smith, director of fashion policy for Humane World for Animals has investigated fur farms around the globe and called it ' just another grim example of what the industry doesn't want you to see.' Animals in the fur trade suffer immensely, both in their daily lives and when they are killed, often with methods like gassing, anal electrocution or clubbing, which result in slow, painful deaths and are commonly used on fur farms because they prevent damage to the pelt. Responders found electrocution tools on the Ohio property. Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane World for Animals UK, said: 'The suffering, terror and pain of the animals on this fur and urine farm made it one of the most horrific situations our rescue team has ever experienced. It's unfathomable that the cruelty of fur farming is legal in the US, and it's shocking to know that fur from animals subjected to such appalling cruelty can be legally imported and sold here in the UK. Ruth Jones' Bill would end this grim trade in line with public opinion, we hope the Government will back the ban.'
