Should a new Government repeal the Hunting Act?

[Andrew Dakers]

The League Against Cruel Sports (www.league.org.uk) is compiling a database of the position of parliamentary candidates of all main parties in relation to repeal of the Hunting Act. They emailed me today asking whether if elected to parliament and the opportunity arose, I would vote in favour of repeal of the Hunting Act?

By reply I explained that despite being a pescatarian and aspiring vegetarian (ie not pro consuming meat for ethical and environmental reasons), I am very doubtful about the enforceability of the Hunting Act.

It has always struck me that a far better focus for improving animal rights is tackling the often cruel industrial farming methods used in this country and overseas. Hence, I would give careful consideration to the issue and do further research at the time of such a vote (including polling local residents), before considering whether to support the repeal of the Hunting Act. Fence sitting maybe, but I want to understand the statistics, particularly around costs of enforcing the act further.

If you have views on this issue, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

[Mike Turner]

Two issues dominate the drive to ban hunting. The fact it is 'sport' and the manner of the fox's death. Both are driven by the heart ruling the head. The fox is one of the few animals, apart from humans, that also kills for fun & not just food. Ask anyone who has seen what a fox can do in a hen run or amongst a group of lambs. The fox's only serious predator in the modern world is humans & it does need control. Making it a sport provides livelihoods for hounds, horses & people. Now lets talk about the manner of death. To see an animal torn to pieces is gut wrenching, and in hunting the manner of death is visible if you are near the kill. But think about it. The fox is shot in the backside & crawls away. Does anyone seriously believe that the shooter is going to find it & finish it off? It will die a slow, agonising death. Like wise poisoning or trapping. You just don't see it happen. At least with hounds it is very very quick & certain. If a hunting ban is unenforceable - and it is - a ban on other control methods is even less enforceable. It is all very well being sentimental & it is even better being against cruelty but----------. Reality has to be allowed to intrude. You are right. Intensive farming inflicts much worse cruelty on many more animals than fox hunting ever did. Now stag hunting is a different matter. The stag is a totally different kind of animal with totally different habits. Its' meat has value as food. Stalking & shooting is the way to control numbers - not hunting with hounds. Practical commonsense not emotion should rule legislation.