Liverpool City Council has published a cross-party motion that welcomes the decision by ACC Liverpool not to hold the Great British Shooting Show in the city.
The decision by the Board of the Exhibition Centre follows an intervention from Mayor Joe Anderson, who had raised concerns about the overall theme of the event.
Although it was never the case that ‘trophy hunting’ would have been showcased, the council has now decided to take preventative measures to ensure that no city venue is ever used by such exhibitors.
The Council will now also be writing to all neighbouring authorities across Liverpool City Region to urge them to follow suit. Furthermore, Mayor Anderson will now call upon the Government to introduce a UK-wide ban.
The full text of the motion reads:
“This Council notes that ACC Liverpool were negotiating a proposal for the British Shooting Show to be held at Liverpool Exhibition Centre next year, however Council also notes there was no proposal for it to include the deplorable practice of overseas trophy hunting. The Council also notes that after the intervention of the elected Mayor that the ACC has confirmed it will now not be hosting the show.
“This Council declares its complete opposition to any form of hunting live animals with hounds or shooting live game, in the UK or overseas. We note that this is barbaric in all cases, and in many cases also threatens species that are already precarious.
“This Council deplores the fact that any company promoting such activity should be allowed to do so in any venue that Liverpool City Council has control or influence over and that the Chief Executive be requested to write to these venues asking them to adopt the terms of this motion and the outcome of this request be reported to the Companies Governance Committee. The same request should be made of all Merseyside Local Authorities and the Combined Authority.
“Council also requests the Mayor to write to the relevant Government Minister to ask that a ban on the promotion of all overseas trophy hunting be extended across the UK.”
The motion will be debated at the next full council meeting on Wednesday 16 October.
