A Conservative MEP who supports hunting with dogs writes on his site’ : ” I was taken aback, and saddened, to find that there’s a group established in Westminster called “Conservatives Against Fox Hunting”
http://rogerhelmermep.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/an-open-letter-to-%E2%80%9Cconservatives-against-foxhunting%E2%80%9D/ Please read the whole blog here.
End of article.
New Article: Tradition
The Burns Report concluded as one of it’s final points that hunting ‘seriously compromises the welfare of the fox’. It also advocated that shooting and lamping is the most humane way to dispatch a fox .
The RSPCA , the most famous and well known animal welfare organisation lobbies politicans for the hunting of foxes, stags, hares and hare coursing to remain banned. So do all our animal welfare organisations. The very few organisations who lobby for a repeal of the legislation which bans hunting are the very organisations who are involved with hunting and have hunting supporters. A very small minority of people are involved in hunting with dogs in Britain. Animal welfare organisations are only concerned with animal welfare and this is their focus only.
http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/huntingact The RSPCA slogan is’ Hands Off The Hunting Act!’
Conservatives Against Fox Hunting are not about promoting a ‘fluffy ‘ image for the Conservative party. We are about supporting the right and compassionate decision and moving forwards into the future and not backwards into the past. We are also concerned about other forms of unnecessary cruel activities such as bull fighting, whaling, rhino hunting etc. We are consistent with our values on animal welfare and do not ‘cherry pick’ which cruel activities to support and which ones to dismiss. There is no blind spot for us about hunting with dogs. We see it as an issue which is as inappropiate as dog fighting , afterall hunting with dogs shares the same model of dogs being set upon other animals for the sake of it’s human participants. Dog fighting involves dogs being trained to attack other dogs by people. Fox hunting involves people training packs of dogs to attack and kill another animal, a fox- which is a wild member of the dog family.
The hunting fraternity may claim that most people on a hunt do not witness the wild mammal being attacked and killed by dogs. This distancing does not absolve them from the responsibility of being involved and facilitating the activity of encouraging dogs to attack wild animals. If people claim they are involved with hunting with dogs because of enjoying the fresh air, the countryside and whatever else they justify as their reason for being involved then drag hunting should suit them very well. This activity replicates all the traditions of hunting with dogs , the chase with the hounds, the dressing up, the social occasion, the cohesion of people together in rural communities etc, yet the suffering of a wild animal is removed as the 
focus of the recreational pursuit.
We respect good traditions yet if they are inappropiate and banned then they do not deserve any place in the 21st century. The tradition of hunting with dogs was banned six years ago.Tradition should not be valued above progress.
Individual freedoms in recreational activities should not be valued above all else and people have a duty of care to others .It is also important to extend this principle to vulnerable wildlife who have no voice of their own and people have a responsibility to protect them from unnecessary suffering as experienced in the chase and the attack by dogs. The Ipsos MORI poll by The League Against Cruel Sports in December 2009 demonstrated that 75% of people think fox hunting should remain illegal.
End of article
An increasing number of Conservative MPs support the ban on hunting with dogs.The below links include just a few of the Conservative MPs who support the ban on hunting with dogs:
http://www.simonkirby.org/newsshow.aspx?id=4&ref=139 An anti hunting Conservative MP writes about the increasing support amongst Conservative MPs against a return of hunting with dogs.
Another Conservative MP wrote in his blog why he was not convinced of the case for repeal
And another Conservative MP talks out against fox hunting.http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/17336/tracey_crouch_i_will_vote_against_repealing_the_hunting_ban.html
A further Conservative MP speaks out against fox hunting:http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/10/conservative-mps-hunting-ban
Conservative MP Mike Weatherley is against hunting:http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/10/conservative-mps-hunting-ban
And another Conservative MP:
17th December 2010 – CAROLINE NAMED AS BRIAN MAY’S HERO OF 2010
Caroline Dinenage was honoured to be named as one of Brian May’s heroes of 2010. The legendary Queen guitarist praised Caroline’s commitment to animal welfare above party politics in an article in the Guardian today.
As a member of Conservatives Against Fox Hunting, Caroline has campaigned tirelessly to ensure that the Hunting Ban is not repealed. She recently chaired the meeting on behalf of the League Against Cruel Sports, to get more MPs on board with their commitment to upholding animal rights.
Brian May stated that her actions, along with the rest of the Conservatives Against Fox Hunting, showed that“These brave MPs are standing by their moral conviction that hunting with dogs is cruel and inexcusable, and must never again be legal in this country.”
You can read the rest of Brian May’s article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/17/conservatives-against-fox-hunting-animal-rights?INTCMP=SRCH%0A
Conservative MP Esther Mc Vey is against huntinghttp://shootingnews.com.au/news/1108%20NEWS/110816%20NEWS%20fox%20hunt%20off.php
Conservative MP Roger Gale is against hunting:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Gale
Conservative MP David Amess is against repeal http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=David_Amess&mpc=Southend_West&house=commons&dmp=1050&display=motions
The message against repeal is written about at the grass roots level of the Conservative party too, here is an example on the site of Clifton Conservatives.
http://www.cliftonconservatives.co.uk/news/inner-city-conservatism-and-killing-fox-hunting-vote
Sunday, 14 August, 2011
‘Graham Godwin-Pearson is delighted that the so-called Blue Fox group of Conservative MPs has declared the potential free vote on restoring fox hunting ‘dead and buried’.
The informal group of mainly urban MPs have made their opposition to a return to hunting so vocal that the Government is likely to now scrap the vote.
Graham says, “We live in a progressive, compassionate society, where there’s no room for barbaric sport or any form of unneccessary cruelty to animals.
“It’s clear that the overwhelming majority of Britons do not want fox hunting to return, so the Government shouldn’t even entertain the idea either.”
End of article.
Another Conservative campaigner supports the message against repeal and writes about the Blue Foxes on her website blog; August 2011
http://www.parveenhassan.com/2011/08/blue-foxes-few-with-conscience.html#comments
‘The hunting ban is coming to the spotlight; a land mark case against the hunt and a wildlife group is being looked at this week. Tory female MP’s known as the Blue Foxes, labelled with irony are against repeal of the ban which has been in place since the Hunting Act came into force in 2005.
Within the heart of the Tory party this has been an issue, more new female MP’s are supporting to retain the ban, for these ”Blue Foxes”, the hunt is unacceptable in modern society, perhaps they are totally against blood sport. The latest set of incoming women in the party and parliament will gain some attention when the free vote on the subject is announced. We have no news of this as yet.The female Tory Blue Foxes declared are Tracey Crouch, Caroline Dineage, Esther McVey, and Laura Sandys.
Women and Fox Hunting
Whether you support the sport, love the sound of the tooting horn, the chase and leaping horses, galloping and pack hounds leading the way, it has criticism from rural villagers alike. I for one call it a tradition that many wish to see clarity on. I also support the views of those who wish to bring humanity to the sport, one would easily categorize me as a blue fox. I am not violating the wishes of thousands, the sport now soaked with a rag of scent of a fox works equally well.
Women love, cherish and have many feelings, including morality and judgement, if the Blue Foxes feel strongly and there is a free vote on this, we should respect their decision to retain the ban and the previously legislated Hunting Act. Hunting with a scent trail is still thriving in the countryside with businesses and breeding hounds doing well, younger horse riders being trained, so why the fuss? The complexity of the law, the boundaries or the legality, are some of the factors, Blue Foxes have notably raised their concerns.
A compromise
Allow the historical traditions to work and develop, give it time, the countryside; its prosperity and people supporting to ensure their breeding businesses succeed, it’s a balancing act for survival and acceptance in the countryside. Respecting the wishes of those who favor the sport or want it removed permanently; a choice of conforming to acceptance of the law and abiding, we should not mock the female conservatives against fox hunting but praise them for challenging the notions.’
