Many people have been in touch with me recently about banning the sale of animal fur.

I believe that how we treat animals is a moral issue, as well as an animal welfare and consumer rights issue. I therefore fully support calls to ban both imports of animal fur and its sale in the UK.

The UK was the first country in Europe to ban fur farming in 2000. The then-Government banned the breeding and slaughter of animals for the value of their fur on ‘public morality’ grounds, as ‘fur farming is not consistent with a proper value and respect for animal life’ though imports are still permitted.

I know animal welfare charities have also long campaigned against the fur trade and for animal fur labelling so consumers to have the right information to make ethical shopping choices.

EU textile labelling regulation requires an item to be labelled if it “contains non-textile parts of animal origin” however, research by the Humane Society International found high levels of non-compliance with this law in practice. Animal fur labelling requirements are already in place in the US and Switzerland. I agree that current provisions relating to animal welfare must be enshrined into UK legislation once we leave the European Union.

I believe the Government needs to set out its strategy for the future and whether it remains committed to the current, hard-won, animal welfare and environmental protections and what further action they will take in this area.

I am aware of the parliamentary petition calling on the Government to ban the sale of animal fur in the UK, which exceeded 100,000 signatures and will be debated now on 4 June.

I can assure that I will be following this issue closely, keeping my website updated on any further developments.