Fabricant among more than 100 MPs to call for fur trade ban

In a letter to Environment Secretary George Eustice, the group – which includes Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant – said allowing fur to be sold in the UK was "effectively outsourcing animal cruelty".

Although fur farming was banned in 2000, the UK currently allows imports of tens of millions of pounds of animal fur each year, the letter adds.

Mr Fabricant said leaving the EU meant that Britain was now able to ban all fur imports.

"It is clear that there is no such thing as humane fur farming," he said.

"Previously, it has been impossible to ban fur imports as a member of the EU. But now we have left, the Government is free to extend the existing fur trade bans for cat, dog and seal fur to all animals, and eliminate illogical protections for some species above others."

Mr Fabricant said that a fur ban "would enjoy widespread public support", and that because the vast majority of UK high street stores were now fur-free, a ban would "have limited impact on businesses, and a proper and reasonable phase-out period would ensure that the few businesses still entered on fur could transition to alternative materials".

He added: "In June this year, Israel became the first country in the world to ban the sale of fur – we should get on with it too!"

Conservative MP Christian Wakeford, who is leading calls to ban fur sales, said he is hosting a Parliamentary reception later this year for leading activists to "further our campaign against the trade of fur in the UK".

A Defra spokesperson said: "We already have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and as an independent nation we are now able to re-examine some of our animal welfare laws, including the import and sale of fur for use in fashion products.

"The views, data and case studies we received in response to our recent call for evidence are currently being reviewed, and will be vital to helping us to inform future government policy in this area – including in better understanding the trade both at home and abroad."

An opinion poll by Yonder published in May showed 72 per cent of Brits supported a ban on fur sales.