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From The Times
February 17, 2006

Britain ready to risk rift on seal clubbing

By Philip Webster
MINISTERS are poised to risk a diplomatic rift with Canada by backing a ban on the import of seal products for fashion accessories.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, and Alan Johnson, the Trade Secretary, are understood to be sympathetic to calls for a ban because of international outrage over the slaughter of baby seals in Newfoundland.

Seal products are also used in the manufacture of sporrans. The United States has already banned the trade with Canada.

The Canadian seal hunt, due to resume in six weeks, is the largest marine mammal cull in the world. The Government’s readiness to act was signalled by Ian Pearson, the Trade Minister, in a debate this week. He said: “Seal-clubbing does the reputation of Canadians no good at all.”

An intensive lobbying campaign is under way by MPs to persuade the Treasury and the Environment Department that a ban should be introduced.

More than 315,000 seals were killed in March and April last year. An independent veterinary study of seal skulls found that more than 40 per cent had minimal or no fractures, suggesting that the animals were conscious when skinned. Kill levels today are twice as high as in the 1960s.

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Matthew parris

open quote mark You'll laugh at what follows: I think there's a fair chance that Gordon Brown will try to bounce the opposition parties into some form of national government close quote mark

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Matthew Parris

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