Ex-minister claims Rishi Sunak’s ban on XL Bully dogs is ‘very unfair’ and must be debated by MPs before it comes into force

• The ex-minister has tabled a parliamentary motion to object to the new rules 

A Conservative former minister has claimed a ban on American XL Bully dogs is ‘very unfair’ and must be debated by MPs before it comes into force.

Sir Christopher Chope has tabled a parliamentary motion to object to the new rules, due to come into force on December 31.

The changes will make it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, rehome, abandon or allow XL bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.

Sir Christopher Chope, former Conservative minister, has claimed a ban on the American XL Bully is ‘very unfair’ and ‘very vague’

The ban on the breed is set to come into force across England and Wales on December 31 this year

READ MORE: Scotland could become new XL Bully capital of Britain as desperate breeders ‘dump’ unwanted dogs north of the border before ban

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After this date, the dogs must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

The breed has been at the centre of a public outcry after a number of high-profile attacks.

Sir Christopher’s motion has been signed by 11 other MPs.

READ MORE: Mother of Jack Lis, 10, who was mauled to death by 7st XL Bully named ‘Beast’ says early release of dog’s owner from prison is a ‘disgrace’ as she continues push for tougher sentences  

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Addressing the Commons, he said: ‘This is a motion which is calling on the Government to bring forward a debate before the ban XL bully-type dogs is implemented at the end of December.

‘(Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt) will know that some 650,000 people across the country have already signed a petition against what the Government is proposing because not only is it very unfair, but it’s also very vague and there are a lot of dog owners who don’t know whether their dogs will be included or not.

‘This is most unsatisfactory legislation. Shouldn’t it be debated in this House before it is implemented?’

Ms Mordaunt said: ‘He will know the motivation for bringing in this legislation but of course we need to provide clarity and reassurance to pet owners.’

Ms Mordaunt said she will write, on Sir Chris’s behalf, to Environment Secretary Steve Barclay to alert him to the motion before the House.

The dog is a variant of the American bully, which can come in a variety of sizes, with XL bullies bred to be particularly big.

The ban applies only to XL Bully types. Dogs which share some characteristics of the breed are not included within the scope of the ban.

However, according to official guidance, if a dog meets the minimum height measurements and a substantial number of the characteristics – e.g. heavy, muscular build – it could be considered an XL Bully type.

The ban will not apply in Scotland after ministers turned down a request from the UK government to comply.

As a result, there have been fears of the country becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for dogs.

Meanwhile, the mother of schoolboy Jack Lis, who was mauled to death by an XL Bully, has hit out at the dog’s owner being released early from prison. 

Jack suffered catastrophic injuries in the mauling by the animal after he went out to play at a friend’s house near his home in South Wales on November 8, 2021. 

His mother Emma Whitfield, 34, has been told that the owner of the dog – Amy Salter, 29 – is being released from prison tomorrow on the condition she doesn’t return to their home town after the tragedy.

Emma has been pushing for tougher laws and sentences after Jack was killed and has said the current sentencing guidelines ‘are a disgrace’. 

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