WHAT has happened to the Government's promise to ban fur factory farming?

The second reading of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill was due to be debated on January 19 and many MPs were in the Commons to give it their support.

Sadly, a very small number of Conservative MPs took it upon themselves to filibuster this measure by speaking at great length on amendments to the previous Bill.

The Government lost its patience and terminated that day's business and the Bill to ban fur farming was not even discussed. It will now have to come back before parliament at a future date.

Opinion polls consistently show that a large majority of people want fur farming to be banned. The selfish and undemocratic behaviour of MPs has so far frustrated that wish. Readers could take this matter up with their own MP and can receive further information by writing to me.

I thought that MPs were elected to reflect the wishes of their constituents - not to protect narrow self-interest groups such as the fur trade.

MARK GLOVER, Campaign Director, Respect for Animals, PO Box 6500, Nottingham NG4 3GB.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.