This article was taken from the League’s website blog and written by Joshua of The League Against Cruel Sports on 22 June, 2011
Speculation is rife amongst political commentators over which policy area will be the next u-turn for the coalition government. In the last year we have seen apparent changes in policy on NHS plans, anonymity for rape defendants, the proposed sale of English Forests, and most recently the Government announced a reversal on its idea of cutting prison sentencing. The Governmnet has also started the process of a backtracking on a badger cull with the Agriculture Minister Jim Paice recently saying it couldn’t happen until 2012 at the earliest, if at all.
There are different ways of viewing political u-turns; you could see it as a sign of weakness or indecision, or you could equally see it as a sign of strength in being able to admit when as politicians you have got something wrong and have to cede that the electorate are not keen on your plans.
Whichever way you see it, we have seen a large number of apparent policy reversals since the Coalition Government was formed last year; so what coalition policy is next to be changed?
What all the policy reversals seem to have had in common is that public opinion was firmly against the Governments proposals. Looking at future changes you would have to say that the Coalition Government’s plan to give the House of Commons a free vote to look at repealing the Hunting Act is one that should be looked at.
With the vast majority of the public against a repeal of the Hunting Act, including both people rural and urban areas, not to mention a majority of MPs declaring their support for the Act, with 209 backbench MPs signing EDM 116, you would have to say that this particular policy is on uncertain ground. You then throw into the mix the fact that a growing number of Conservative MPs are challenging their party over their traditional support of hunting as well as an effective grass roots campaign group called Conservatives Against Fox Hunting highlighting that the majority of Conservative Party members do not want to see the Hunting Act repealed.
If the examples of policies being reversed off the back off opposition from the electorate are anything to go by, then it would not be out of the realms of possibility for the Coalition Government to put their hands up, admit they got it wrong on hunting and then 
we can all move on.
So there you are Mr Cameron, it’s your move.
