To curb the killing of elephants for their tusks, ivory obtained from elephants after 1947 cannot be bought or sold. The ivory can be accurately dated, so convictions can and have been made when this law is contravened.
But old ivory from before that can still be traded. There is a vast amount of old ivory around, some of it beautifully carved. If it cannot be sold, what can be done with it? Binned? Burned? Exhibited in museums or stored away?
Do we ban the sale of antique furniture made from mahogany? Or old books made from heaven knows what?
In his 2015 manifesto, David Cameron said that he woukld press for a complete ban on the sale of ALL ivory.
Fast forward to 2017. The Tory manifesto makes no mention of the pledge, having instead a general vow to protect endangered species and the marine environment (which surely includes elephants and probably the old ivory too?). The labour party includes the ban.
So some campaigning media run headlines like "Conservatives quietly bin pledge to ban ivory trade in 2017 manifesto" giving the impression that they would be in favour of the sale of ALL ivory and backtrack on protecting elephants. Condemnation by innuendo!
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