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Tory MPs attend Boxing Day fox hunts Tory MPs attend Boxing Day fox hunts
(about 2 hours later)
Several Tory MPs, including three ministers, have demonstrated their support for easing the ban on foxhunting by attending traditional Boxing Day hunts in their constituencies. They included Damian Green, the policing and criminal justice minister, Matthew Hancock, the skills and enterprise minister, and Greg Barker, the minister for energy and climate change. All three turned to Twitter to note the degree of support for the hunts.Several Tory MPs, including three ministers, have demonstrated their support for easing the ban on foxhunting by attending traditional Boxing Day hunts in their constituencies. They included Damian Green, the policing and criminal justice minister, Matthew Hancock, the skills and enterprise minister, and Greg Barker, the minister for energy and climate change. All three turned to Twitter to note the degree of support for the hunts.
There were more than 250 hunting events across the country yesterday. Green said crowds were large at Ashford Valley Hunt in Tenterden, Kent. Hancock said the turnout was huge for the Thurlow Hunt in his West Suffolk constituency. Barker said the hunt crowd in his Battle constituency in East Sussex was the largest he had seen for years. There were more than 250 hunting events across the country on Thursday. Green said crowds were large at Ashford Valley Hunt in Tenterden, Kent. Hancock said the turnout was huge for the Thurlow Hunt in his West Suffolk constituency. Barker said the hunt crowd in his Battle constituency in East Sussex was the largest he had seen for years.
The ban on hunting foxes with dogs is believed to be routinely ignored, but most of the Boxing Day events fell within the law by practising trail-hunting – chasing a rag laced with fox scent. They passed off peacefully. The coalition is committed to holding a free vote on repealing the ban, but the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, has indicated that such a vote is not imminent.The ban on hunting foxes with dogs is believed to be routinely ignored, but most of the Boxing Day events fell within the law by practising trail-hunting – chasing a rag laced with fox scent. They passed off peacefully. The coalition is committed to holding a free vote on repealing the ban, but the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, has indicated that such a vote is not imminent.
The Countryside Alliance suggested that it could withdraw its support for the Conservatives if the government fails to ease the ban before the 2015 election. Its executive chairman, Barney White-Spunner, said: "Tackling the failed Hunting Act is a matter of trust between David Cameron, the coalition government and the countryside. In three and a half years the government has done nothing to address this illiberal, unjust and divisive law."The Countryside Alliance suggested that it could withdraw its support for the Conservatives if the government fails to ease the ban before the 2015 election. Its executive chairman, Barney White-Spunner, said: "Tackling the failed Hunting Act is a matter of trust between David Cameron, the coalition government and the countryside. In three and a half years the government has done nothing to address this illiberal, unjust and divisive law."
He added: "Hunting is a totemic issue and even a small improvement to the current situation would go a long way to persuading rural people that the government is in step with them."He added: "Hunting is a totemic issue and even a small improvement to the current situation would go a long way to persuading rural people that the government is in step with them."
Tory MP Simon Hart, a former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said the party was facing a rural rebellion on the issue.Tory MP Simon Hart, a former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said the party was facing a rural rebellion on the issue.
"If you are a rural voter and activist who turned out to help in 2010 with a spring in your step for the new dawn the Conservatives were promising, do you still feel the same way? No, you don't, and there is only so much you can blame the Lib Dems for," he told the Daily Mail."If you are a rural voter and activist who turned out to help in 2010 with a spring in your step for the new dawn the Conservatives were promising, do you still feel the same way? No, you don't, and there is only so much you can blame the Lib Dems for," he told the Daily Mail.
Despite the local popularity of hunts in rural areas, on a national scale, 80% of Britons believe foxhunting should remain illegal, according to a Mori poll for the League Against Cruel Sports. In October, Cameron said he had "sympathy" with calls for the rules on foxhunting to be loosened.Despite the local popularity of hunts in rural areas, on a national scale, 80% of Britons believe foxhunting should remain illegal, according to a Mori poll for the League Against Cruel Sports. In October, Cameron said he had "sympathy" with calls for the rules on foxhunting to be loosened.
Joe Duckworth, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said a new vote would be "political suicide".Joe Duckworth, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said a new vote would be "political suicide".
"Hunting is a sickeningly cruel bloodsport, which, like us, the majority of the British public do not want brought back. Voting for repeal would be political suicide," he said."Hunting is a sickeningly cruel bloodsport, which, like us, the majority of the British public do not want brought back. Voting for repeal would be political suicide," he said.
Sir Nick Harvey, a former Liberal Democrat defence minister and the MP for North Devon, claimed the law "cannot remain where it is" for much longer as it is unenforceable. He told the Guardian: "We have passed a law which is an ass."Sir Nick Harvey, a former Liberal Democrat defence minister and the MP for North Devon, claimed the law "cannot remain where it is" for much longer as it is unenforceable. He told the Guardian: "We have passed a law which is an ass."
A spokeswoman for the Countryside Alliance said: "People have come out in their tens of thousands to show they are right behind hunting. They wouldn't be attending if they didn't believe the ban should be lifted." She welcomed the attendance of the three ministers at the Boxing Day events, but urged them to go further. "They have got to put that support into action by repealing the ban."A spokeswoman for the Countryside Alliance said: "People have come out in their tens of thousands to show they are right behind hunting. They wouldn't be attending if they didn't believe the ban should be lifted." She welcomed the attendance of the three ministers at the Boxing Day events, but urged them to go further. "They have got to put that support into action by repealing the ban."
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