Andy Burnham has been urged by celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Dame Joanna Lumley to deliver on Labour’s manifesto pledge to ban trophy hunting imports. The stars, including actress Dame Judi Dench and ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly, have shared a video message to the new Prime Minister with the plea.

They call on him to follow through with Labour’s 2024 promise to stop British hunters bringing body parts from animals killed abroad back to Britain as grisly souvenirs. In the message, they said: “Dear Andy Burnham, we know you’ve got an awful lot on your mind, but we’d like to ask you one thing that will go down very well with the British public.

“Trophy hunting is cruel, archaic, and cowardly. Right now, British hunters are killing lions, leopards, elephants, and giraffes just for fun.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)

“At the 2024 general election, Labour made a manifesto commitment to stop trophy hunters bringing back their trophies.

“A ban on hunting trophies is supported by 92% of the British people. It’s supported by the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and almost every other party in Parliament.

“Let’s get animal trophies banned now. It’s a no-brainer. Let’s ban trophy hunting now.”

Other celebrities who took part in the video include actors Charles Dance, Peter Egan, Brian Blessed and Dawn French, broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh and rugby player Jonny Wilkinson.

Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, said: “The delay is just baffling. The bill is literally sitting on the minister’s desk. MPs are getting angry at being fobbed off every time they ask when the government plans to bring the bill to parliament.

“Wildlife conservationists are beyond exasperated. Even the French – hardly known for their animal welfare record – have just banned hunting trophies. We’re supposed to be a nation of animal-lovers. Voters feel increasingly betrayed by this government over its broken promises.

“Britain now has weaker laws on trophy hunting than the US under Donald Trump. American hunters are banned from bringing Cheetahs and Polar bears home.

“They’re also banned from bringing back ‘canned’ lions that have bred in cages and shot in enclosed fields. British hunters can still do it, though. It’s an utter disgrace. Ministers should hang their heads in shame.”

Labour MP Clive Efford is leading a debate in Parliament on trophy hunting on Wednesday, which he said is an “opportunity to get an explanation from the government as to what they intend to do to bring to an end the imports of hunting trophies on big game”.

He said: “This is a tiny minority of people who totally lack any compassion, complete idiots, who feel that this is some kind of sport when it’s incredulous to me that they can consider it sport when the other side of the sport doesn’t even know the sport’s taking place.”

A YouGov poll in 2024 found that 92% of Britons said trophy hunting is unacceptable, with just 4% saying it was acceptable.

A Defra spokesperson said: “We remain firmly committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from vulnerable species. We will change the law as soon as parliamentary time allows.”

Andy Burnham Urged by Ricky Gervais and Joanna Lumley to Ban Trophy Hunting Imports

Andy Burnham is facing growing pressure to deliver one of Labour’s most prominent animal welfare promises after celebrities including Ricky Gervais, Dame Joanna Lumley and Dame Judi Dench called on him to introduce a ban on trophy hunting imports. Their intervention has brought renewed attention to an issue that has frustrated animal welfare campaigners for years: Britain’s continued acceptance of hunting trophies brought home by people who kill wild animals overseas.

The celebrities have joined forces to send a direct message to Burnham, urging him to honour Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto commitment to prohibit the importation of hunting trophies from animals killed abroad. Their appeal is straightforward: Britain should no longer allow hunters to return home with the heads, skins and other body parts of endangered or threatened animals as souvenirs.

The campaign has also raised wider questions about the government’s commitment to animal welfare and its willingness to turn election promises into legislation. With public concern about wildlife conservation continuing to grow, campaigners argue that further delays are becoming increasingly difficult to justify.

Celebrities Unite to Demand Action

Ricky Gervais has become one of the most outspoken public figures campaigning against trophy hunting. The comedian has repeatedly condemned the practice, arguing that killing magnificent wild animals for personal satisfaction and displaying their remains as decorations has no legitimate place in modern society.

Dame Joanna Lumley has also been a longstanding supporter of efforts to protect endangered wildlife. Her involvement reflects a wider concern among conservation organisations that the international trophy hunting industry continues to threaten vulnerable animal populations.

Other celebrities involved in the latest appeal include Dame Judi Dench, Lorraine Kelly, Charles Dance, Peter Egan, Brian Blessed, Dawn French and Alan Titchmarsh.

In their video message, the celebrities reminded Burnham that Labour had made a clear commitment before the 2024 general election to stop hunters bringing trophies into Britain.

Their argument is that the government already has a political mandate to act and should not allow the issue to disappear beneath competing parliamentary priorities.

The campaigners also referred to polling suggesting overwhelming public opposition to trophy hunting. A YouGov survey conducted in 2024 found that 92 per cent of respondents considered trophy hunting unacceptable, while only four per cent regarded it as acceptable.

For the campaign, this demonstrates that the proposed import ban enjoys support beyond traditional party political divisions.

What Is Trophy Hunting?

Trophy hunting involves killing wild animals primarily to obtain and retain body parts as personal trophies. These may include animal heads, horns, skins, tusks and other remains.

Some hunters travel to African countries and other international destinations specifically to participate in organised hunting expeditions. They may pay substantial sums to hunting operators for the opportunity to shoot animals such as lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes and other large mammals.

Supporters of regulated trophy hunting argue that the industry can generate revenue for conservation programmes and local communities. They maintain that carefully managed hunting can contribute to wildlife management and provide financial incentives to protect natural habitats.

However, opponents question whether these benefits are sufficient to justify the killing of threatened wildlife. They also argue that the economic benefits are not always distributed fairly among local communities and that poorly regulated hunting can undermine conservation objectives.

The distinction between legitimate wildlife management and commercial trophy hunting is therefore an important part of the debate.

A British import ban would not automatically prohibit trophy hunting in other countries. Instead, it would prevent hunters from bringing specified hunting trophies into the United Kingdom, reducing Britain’s participation in the international trade.

Labour’s Broken Promise Under Scrutiny

One of the most significant aspects of the controversy is that Labour had already committed itself to introducing the ban.

In its 2024 election manifesto, the party promised to prohibit imports of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. The commitment formed part of its wider animal welfare agenda.

However, despite Labour winning the general election, the promised legislation has not yet become law.

This delay has frustrated campaigners, environmental organisations and MPs who believe the government should have acted sooner.

The issue is not entirely new. Previous attempts to introduce a Hunting Trophies Bill received considerable parliamentary support, with legislation passing through the House of Commons in 2023 before running out of time in the House of Lords.

The latest controversy therefore reflects years of political disagreement and legislative delays rather than a sudden emergence of public concern.

For animal welfare campaigners, the central question is simple: if there is broad parliamentary support and a clear manifesto commitment, why has the government not yet delivered the promised legislation?

Parliament Demands Answers

The pressure increased further following a parliamentary debate on hunting trophy imports on 11 November 2026.

MPs from different political parties called on the government to introduce the promised ban without further delay.

Labour MP Clive Efford, who has played an important role in campaigning for restrictions, argued that Britain should end its involvement in the importation of hunting trophies.

Other MPs also highlighted the importance of protecting threatened wildlife and questioned why legislation that had previously attracted substantial parliamentary support had not progressed.

The debate demonstrated that opposition to trophy hunting imports is not confined to one political party.

Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green representatives all contributed to discussions about the need for stronger protections.

However, the government stopped short of announcing a firm legislative timetable.

Environment Minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter reiterated that Labour remained committed to banning imports of trophies from species of conservation concern. She explained that the legislation would be introduced when parliamentary time allowed.

She also addressed calls for an immediate moratorium on imports, explaining that the government did not currently have the legal powers to stop trophy imports without primary legislation.

That explanation has not satisfied campaigners who want a clear date and a stronger commitment to action.

Why the Issue Matters for Wildlife Conservation

The debate over trophy hunting is about more than whether wealthy individuals should be allowed to bring animal remains home as souvenirs.

It also raises important questions about biodiversity, wildlife protection and the future of endangered species.

Many large mammals face serious threats from habitat destruction, illegal hunting, climate change and human-wildlife conflict. Their survival depends on effective conservation policies and international cooperation.

African elephants, lions, leopards and other iconic species are particularly important to conservation efforts because their populations and habitats face continuing pressures.

Campaigners argue that allowing hunting trophies to enter Britain creates a market that helps sustain an industry responsible for killing vulnerable animals.

They believe that banning imports would send a clear international message that the United Kingdom does not wish to contribute to commercial trophy hunting.

However, any legislation must be carefully designed. It needs clear definitions, enforceable restrictions and appropriate arrangements for legitimate conservation and scientific activities.

It must also consider the potential effects on communities in countries where regulated hunting generates income. Conservation policies should protect wildlife while ensuring that local people are not unfairly disadvantaged.

Andy Burnham Faces a Political Test

The appeal to Andy Burnham places the spotlight on his government’s ability to deliver on a commitment that has already attracted considerable public attention.

Animal welfare is an issue that can unite people across traditional political divisions. It is also an area where voters often expect politicians to demonstrate consistency between their promises and their actions.

The celebrities’ intervention gives the campaign renewed public visibility, but the responsibility for introducing legislation ultimately rests with the government and Parliament.

Burnham will therefore face questions about the timetable, the precise scope of the proposed ban and the measures needed to ensure that it can be effectively enforced.

The government must also explain whether its proposed legislation will cover all relevant species of conservation concern and how it intends to deal with existing import arrangements.

These are practical questions that deserve clear answers rather than another general expression of support.

Conclusion

The intervention by Ricky Gervais, Joanna Lumley and other prominent celebrities has renewed pressure on the government to fulfil Labour’s promise to ban trophy hunting imports.

Their campaign highlights a growing frustration with the gap between political commitments and actual legislation. MPs have already demonstrated considerable cross-party interest in the issue, while polling indicates substantial public opposition to trophy hunting.

The government maintains that it remains committed to introducing the ban, but its refusal to provide a firm timetable has left campaigners demanding further action.

Ultimately, the question is whether Britain will translate its stated commitment to wildlife protection into meaningful legislation.

For animal welfare campaigners, the objective is clear: endangered and threatened animals should not be reduced to decorative trophies brought home from overseas hunting expeditions.

Andy Burnham now faces renewed pressure to explain when the government intends to act. The celebrities have made their appeal, Parliament has debated the issue, and the manifesto commitment already exists.

What remains is the delivery of the promised legislation. After years of delays, campaigners want more than another assurance that the government will act when parliamentary time allows. They want a date, a clear plan and concrete action to bring the trade in hunting trophies to an end.