POLITICS

Boris Johnson plucks food and fur bans from Queen's Speech

The production of foie gras has been banned in the UK for more than a decade but imports are allowed
The production of foie gras has been banned in the UK for more than a decade but imports are allowed
ALAIN PITTON/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES

Boris Johnson has dropped plans to ban the import and sale of foie gras and fur from the Queen’s Speech after Cabinet ministers warned that the move is “fundamentally unconservative”.

The proposed ban, which ministers previously said would be implemented as soon as possible on animal cruelty grounds, has been abandoned as part of a bid to shore up support on the right of the Conservative Party.

Conservative MPs had threatened a rebellion over the issue and several prominent Cabinet minister including Mark Spencer, the leader of the commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Brexit opportunities minister, and Alister Jack, the Scotland secretary, were opposed.

Foie gras is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese until their liver grows abnormally large
Foie gras is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese until their liver grows abnormally large
ANDIA/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES

The production of foie gras and fur farming has been banned in the UK for over a decade but