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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What is Pride Month and why is it celebrated in June?
June 1 marks the start of Pride Month, kicking off a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) history, culture and resilience. The first Pride parade took place in New York City on June 28, 1970, one year after the Stonewall Riots, and it was held alongside those in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles as the inaugural protest march. Here's the history behind Pride month, how it began, and how it's used to commemorate the lives of LGBTQ individuals today. Until a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003, homosexuality was considered a crime throughout the U.S. As a result, people who identified as LGBTQ would often meet in places targeted towards straight people, said Briona Simone Jones, an Audre Lorde visiting professor of queer studies at Spelman College in Atlanta. One of these meetup spots was the Stonewall Inn, a private club-turned-bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village in lower Manhattan. The New York police, who once had a now-disbanded Public Morals Squad, were known to harass people in the community, especially drag queens and transgender people, Jones told USA TODAY. The NYPD even used a 'three-article rule' in the 1940s and 1960s. Although the rule never became law, police often threatened arrest if individuals didn't wear at least three pieces of clothing that matched the gender they were assigned at birth, Jones said. Things took a turn on June 28, 1969 after the NYPD raided the establishment, but the patrons and a growing crowd decided to fight back. The five days of rioting, from June 28 to July 3, 1969, proved to be a catalyst for a national civil rights movement for LGBTQ community members. Now, nearly 56 years later, the day is commemorated with a month-long celebration of parades, marches, and flags. It took 30 years from the Stonewall Riots to the federal government's recognition of Pride Month via a 1999 proclamation from former President Bill Clinton. Since then, two other presidents, Barack Obama in 2011 and Joe Biden in 2024, have issued further declarations to highlight the achievements of the LGBTQ community. The White House's formal acknowledgment took decades to come to fruition and involved organizing efforts and forming advocacy groups for gay, lesbian, and transgender rights, according to historian Stephen Petrus, director of public history programs at LaGuardia Community College. One of the best ways allies can support their LGBTQ loved ones is by learning, said Nicholas Boston, an associate professor of media sociology at Lehman College and the City University of New York. 'Education is the best form of allyship," he told USA TODAY. Petrus, from LaGuardia Community College, said those wanting to learn more can look into: The Battle for Intro. 2: The New York City Gay Rights Bill, 1971 - 1986: Digital exhibit about the Gay Rights Bill, which took 15 years to pass. Stand By Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation: A book by Jim Downs about how LGBTQ individuals formed communities within churches and other organizations. The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle: A book by Lillian Faderman about the struggle for gay rights. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What inspired Pride Month and why is it celebrated in June?
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
State Rep. Jolanda Jones to campaign for seat left vacant by congressman's death
AUSTIN (KXAN)– Texas State Rep. Jolanda Jones announced Monday her campaign for Congress, seeking to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Sylvester Turner's death earlier this year. The Houston Democrat becomes the latest candidate to enter what has become a competitive race for the 18th Congressional District, joining Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards, energy executive Zoe Cadore, realtor Peter Filler, community advocate Robert Slater and independent candidates Reyna Anderson and Chance Davis. Jones emphasized her commitment to protecting federal programs and constitutional freedoms in her campaign launch, positioning herself as an experienced advocate ready to confront Republican policy initiatives in Washington. The Nov. 4 special election will determine Turner's replacement in a district considered safely Democratic. Turner died in March after serving just two months of his first term. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee previously held the seat before her death in 2024. Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election to fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner's seat Gov. Greg Abbott faced criticism from Democrats for waiting to schedule the special election until the November uniform election date, leaving the district without representation for nine months. However the extended timeline allowed Jones to complete the legislative session before launching her congressional campaign, as she had pledged to focus on her state house duties until the session concluded. Menefee criticized the governor's decision, stating it was 'unconscionable to leave nearly 800,000 people in this district without representation in Congress for most of the year.' Abbott defended the timeline, citing concerns about Harris County's election administration capabilities, though county officials disputed his characterization of their election operations. Jones brings diverse government experience to the congressional race. She has represented House District 147 at the State Capitol since winning the election in 2022, where she worked on criminal justice, health policy and redistricting issues. Before her legislative service, Jones spent four years on Houston City Council representing an at-large position from 2008-2012. She also served on the Houston Independent School District school board. The veteran attorney waited until the end of the legislative session to announce her congressional campaign, citing her responsibility to current constituents in the state house. Her legal practice spans more than two decades, during which she worked on high-profile cases including efforts to reform Houston's police crime laboratory following evidence handling problems. In Congress, Jones said she would prioritize defending social programs, including Social Security and Medicare from potential reductions. She also plans to advocate for expanded healthcare access and reproductive rights restoration. The candidate emphasized her long-standing advocacy for women's healthcare autonomy and pledged to work toward reversing federal abortion restrictions. Veterans' benefits protection and education funding would also receive focus under her congressional agenda, along with infrastructure investments for the Houston region. Several Democrats have already launched campaigns for the seat: Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee entered the race first, securing support from former congressional candidates Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke. Lee's daughter, Erica Lee Carter, chairs his campaign organization. Former city council member Amanda Edwards brings municipal government experience and private sector leadership as head of a community solutions consulting firm. She spearheaded Houston's technology innovation initiatives during her council tenure and maintains extensive nonprofit board involvement. Energy industry executive Zoe Cadore is running after serving as a federal affairs director for Calpine Corporation. Her background includes policy work with the American Petroleum Institute and involvement in Turner's mayoral administration. Peter Filler, a real estate professional with environmental science training, offers urban forestry expertise and Texas teaching credentials to the race. Robert Slater campaigns on economic revitalization and public safety improvements, drawing from personal experiences growing up in underserved Houston communities. Independent candidates Chance Davis and Reyna Anderson, running under the 'Other' party designation, round out the field. The 18th District encompasses some of Houston's most politically active communities and serves as a crucial Democratic stronghold in Texas. With Republicans holding a narrow House majority, maintaining the seat remains important for Democratic legislative priorities. The extended vacancy has left constituents without representation during key congressional debates over federal spending and policy initiatives. Jones' candidacy adds state-level legislative experience to a field dominated by local government veterans and private sector professionals, potentially appealing to voters seeking Austin connections for federal advocacy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
New state analysis shows 2.1% biennium budget increase
The full text of Montana's biennial budget laid out on a lawmaker's desk. (Micah Drew/ Daily Montanan) An analysis of Montana's budget for the 2025-27 biennium showed a 2.1% increase over the previous biennium, the Legislative Fiscal Division reported this week. Some members of the state's legislature said during the session the increase was double-digits, focusing specifically on the general fund, which House Appropriations Chair Llew Jones said was a misrepresentation of the budget. 'Sadly, members of Montana's Freedom Caucus have been deliberately misleading constituents, citing as much as an 18% increase in our state budget by including General Fund spending from the previous session and transfers to other state funds in their calculations,' Jones said in a press release. 'Instead, the total state budget will grow by just over 2% in the next two years, which we accomplished while also giving historic income and property tax cuts to Montana families and small businesses.' Jones stated the calculations factored in 'transfer of General Fund resources to special trusts and the distribution of significant income and property tax reductions' when coming to the 2.1% number. That growth rate is less than inflation, the release noted, an often repeated goal of Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte. Some Freedom Caucus members are skeptical about the calculations. Rep. Jerry Schillinger, R-Circle, said an effort had been made to cut certain items out of the budget toward the end of the session to 'make it look better' and added that the money would still be spent anyway. 'I just haven't verified their numbers yet, but I'm highly skeptical of what Representative Jones is talking about,' Schillinger told the Daily Montanan. The fight over the budget was bitter during the session and a coalition of Democrats and Republicans pushed through the $16.6 billion spending package. Schillinger said some 'big government' Republicans, instead of working with fellow conservatives, sought out Democrats to work with instead. He said this has been happening for several sessions. 'It just came out more and more into the open this session,' Schillinger said. He added that if the legislature had done its job, Gov. Gianforte, a Republican, wouldn't have to be spending the time 'vetoing all these bills.' Not all spending bills have been signed or vetoed, meaning the calculations could change depending on spending, the Legislative Fiscal Division analysis stated. Schillinger said that it appeared likely the Governor would also be signing the mega-trust bill discussed heavily near the end of the session. HB 924, for example, was touted by Jones as critical money for housing, childcare, and disaster resiliency. It became a touch point for spending hawks in the legislature who repeatedly decried the spending. A release stated, 'these trusts will increase Montana's resources.'
