In July last year, I met with the International Fund for Animal Welfare to support the launch of their campaign to ban the UK ivory trade. As part of this, IFAW were asking for anyone in ownership of an ivory item to show their support by surrendering it. As you can see from the picture above, the response has been overwhelming.

The UK is now the leading exporter of ivory antiques, a trade which is still completely legal. Unless we put a stop to this, it will only reinforce the demand for illegal ivory and the elephant poaching that still goes on today. That’s why I’m proud to back the ban on the UK ivory trade as part of IFAW’s fight against the needless slaughter of these magnificent animals.