On Boxing Day, as Hunts renewed their call for the repeal of the hunting ban, it is significant to remember that we have a new Prime Minister who stated that she wants to lead a country that works for everyone, not just a privileged few. The vast majority of the British public support the Hunting Act 2004 and do not want a return of hunting with dogs. The latest poll for the League Against Cruel Sports shows that over 80% of the public and 73% of Conservative supporters do not want a return to fox hunting.
Conservatives Against Fox Hunting (Blue Fox) represents the majority of Conservative supporters against hunting with dogs .There are now over 55 Conservative MPs against the repeal of the ban. Blue Fox has 5 MP Patrons including 2 Government Ministers- Tracey Crouch, the Minister for Sport and Caroline Dinenage, the Minister for Equalities, Dominic Raab and two knights of the realm, Sir David Amess and Sir Roger Gale.
Sir Roger Gale MP for North Thanet and Blue Fox Patron comments:
“When it comes to concern for animals, party affiliation is irrelevant. Is there anything more fundamentally British than caring for those around you? For us, that quintessentially British sense of duty must also be extended to those who also feel pain and fear. The sight of a fox chased to exhaustion and killed by a pack of hounds, is repugnant whether you are blue, red, yellow, or of any other or no political persuasion. It speaks to the strength of British politics that members of all parties can come together to defend the most vulnerable, whether human or animal, in our society. As Conservatives, we are proud to play a leading role in that fight, and as MPs, we will protect the Hunting Act. Defending animal welfare is a fundamentally British value – decent, sensible, and reasonable.”
Lorraine Platt, Co- Founder of Conservatives Against Fox Hunting said:
“It will be a national disgrace if the Government decides it can find the parliamentary time to hold a vote on the minority activity of hunting with dogs by repealing or weakening the Hunting Act 2004 yet can’t find the necessary time to ban wild animals in circuses, introduce CCTV in all slaughterhouses or end long distance live animal exports which cause immense suffering. It is hugely irresponsible to waste precious parliamentary time on this issue and this will not go unnoticed by the British public.
It’s unacceptable to allow packs of dogs to chase and tear apart wild animals such as hares and foxes for sport. The fox population declined by 34% between 1995- 2015 and there is no justification to return fox hunting. Foxes are wild members of the dog family and experience fear, pain and suffering just as domesticated dogs do. If hunt supporters can’t find compassion for the wild animals chased by packs of dogs maybe they can at least consider the fate of the hunt dogs themselves, who are often killed at half their natural life span when they can no longer keep up with the hunt”.
Lorraine Platt further added:
“We will continue to work within the Conservative Party and with our growing number of anti-hunting Conservative MPs to explain our position and put across the fundamental, unarguable fact that in the 21st century it is unacceptable to hunt and kill an animal with dogs for sport.”
