John Leech MP

John Leech MP pledges to protect endangered elephants from the deadly ivory trade

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jun 2008

John Leech MP at the IFAW campaign reception

Chinese citizens have been convicted of illegally trading ivory in 22 of the 37 African elephant range states.

MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech, is backing the International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW) latest campaign to protect thousands of endangered elephants from the brutal ivory trade.

John Leech MP said: "Next month is crucial for IFAW's campaign as China may well be allowed to buy ivory from government stockpiles in South Africa. Although the ivory trade has been banned since 1989, an illegal trade sees the death of 20,000 elephants per year to meet demand.

"I am joining IFAW to call on the government to bring together EU partners to oppose China as an ivory buyer. We must stamp out such a cruel practice before it is too late."

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Previous news story: 'Our GPs must continue to see us as patients, not customers' - John Leech MP (Thu 5th Jun 2008).
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