CAMPAIGNERS have warned the UK Government against scaling back on commitments to tackle climate change and end the illegal market in wildlife in order to secure post-Brexit trade deals.

Greenpeace, WWF, Friends of the Earth, and figures such as Andy Murray and Will Young are among signatories to a letter urging Theresa May not to engage in an “environmental race to the bottom” after EU withdrawal.

The letter states: “We are alarmed by recent media reports suggesting that the UK’s commitments to tackling climate change and ending the illegal wildlife trade could be watered down to secure post-Brexit trade deals.”

WWF chief executive officer Tanya Steele said: “An African elephant is killed every 25 minutes by ivory poachers, and we are already seeing the serious impacts of climate change, with more severe weather events in the UK.

“Our environment must not be sacrificed during the Brexit negotiations. The UK Government must deliver on its promises and leave the environment in a better state for future generations, rather than trading away protections for our nature and climate.”

A government spokesman said: “The government has a clear ambition to be the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state than we found it while securing the best deal as we leave the EU.”