Conservative MPs are organizing an uprising against the prime minister rescind the ban on the import and sale of furs and foie gras.
Government sources have confirmed to the Guardian that reports of vehicle turns are “comprehensively true”, despite the fact that bans have been mentioned in the government’s action plan for rights. animal welfare and to attract supportive voters. The 2019 manifesto, which refers to the action plan, also pledges not to compromise animal welfare standards in international trade. The production of both furs and foie gras is banned in the UK. A spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the government remained “fully committed to animal welfare”.
MPs who support the ban say they are shocked by the news and are demanding an explanation from Boris Johnson.
Lorraine Platt, a grassroots Tory campaigner the so-called “unofficial whip” on animal welfare policies, is organizing an influential group of MPs to lobby the prime minister for a rethink.
Platt is the founder of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, which includes cabinet ministers including Dominic Raab and Zac Goldsmith among its members.
“We cannot let Boris be swayed by a handful of dissidents,” she said. We have known for some time that a small minority of MPs are against any ban on foie gras and fur imports.
“We will be taking some action on this. We will encourage this measure moving forward.”
Sir Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet, who sent a letter of no confidence to Committee 1922 demanded Johnson’s resignation, saying he believed the prime minister had chosen to move to the right wing of the party to strengthen his position.
“The amount of positive publicity these policies have had, seems like a strange decision. It will not please anyone but a few far-right MPs who see this as nonsense.
“I don’t know if he is trying to push into the right side of the Conservatives to see if he can support his administration. But failing to follow these guidelines will do more harm to the congressional party than good.”
Johnson is thought to have been campaigned to scrap policies, seen as espousing the more eco-minded side of the party, by figures including Jacob Rees-Mogg. Rees-Mogg has been contacted for comment.
One Tory who has been outspoken about his fondness for foie gras and lack of enthusiasm for the ban is Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, who previously joked: “I don’t like the idea of going abroad to eat it. my favorite foods. And are you allowed to smuggle foie gras on Eurostar? For personal use only?”
