MINISTERS have beaten Labour over its pledge to ban households keeping monkeys as pets as they revealed government plans have already started work to outlaw the practice.
Jeremy Corbyn’s party announced it would impose a “total ban” on primates as pets, with an estimated 5,000 currently in UK homes.
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But new environment minister Zac Goldsmith said he was already drawing up plans with the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset to ban the trade and said new laws would be brought in as soon as possible.
And he revealed to The Sun last night that No10 had already signed off on plans to change the law to outlaw primates being kept as pets.
BEEN THERE DONE IT
He said: “When you visit monkey world you will see a huge variety of well cared for monkeys and other primates.
“But each and every one of them is a rescued animal, most from the UK.
“You can buy and sell many species of monkey as easily as you can buy and sell goldfish.
“And when people do, no matter how well-meaning they are, the very strong likelihood is that they will end up regretting it.
“Monkeys are hugely complex animals, and it is impossible to exaggerate how far removed their miserable existence in a birdcage is from the life they should be living in the wild.
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“I supported an attempt to introduce a ban 10 years ago, when my colleague Sherryl Murray tabled a bill. And I’m thrilled that I’m now in a position to be able to do something about it.
“I have been having discussions with Monkey World’s Dr Alison Cronin for a considerable period of time, and she has been advising me on the steps we need to take.
“Cross-party support obviously makes things easier, and so naturally I welcome it.”
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