Chairman of Conservative Animal Welfare and Conservatives Against Fox Hunting Celebrate Tenth Anniversary of the Hunting Act 2004
To mark the tenth anniversary of the landmark Hunting Act 2004 on February 18th Conservatives Against Fox Hunting (Blue Fox) calls for the Conservative Party leadership to guarantee that the new Conservative Manifesto will not include any pledges to undermine the act which bans hare coursing, fox, mink, stag and hare hunting with dogs for sport.
The latest Ipsos-Mori (21st Dec 2014) poll on the issue shows that 80% of the country think fox hunting should not be made legal again- that’s eight out of ten people want to keep the ban. The same poll shows that the opposition to hunting with dogs is equal in rural communities as much as it is in urban communities. The poll shows that two thirds of respondents who said they would vote Conservative in 2015 do not think fox hunting should be made legal again.
There is an excellent opportunity to leave the worn out hunting issue behind and promote a modern manifesto with an invigorated commitment to advance positive animal welfare objectives which appeal to our whole society. A YouGov poll in 2014 showed that 14% of voters named animal welfare as an issue that would determine their vote. It came directly behind defence and ahead of HS2 or same sex marriage. MPs are contacted on animal welfare issues more than any other issue.’
Calls for a relaxation or repeal of the hunting ban perpetuate a dated outmoded image. We need to move forward as a nation, not backwards on matters of animal welfare. There are an increasing number of Conservative MPs who are prepared to resist repeal and say “ No” to a return of banned sports.
Suzy Gale, Chairman Conservative Animal Welfare
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder Conservatives Against Fox Hunting (Blue Fox)
Chris Platt Co-Founder & Vice President of Esher & Walton Conservative Association
Sir David Amess MP
Stuart Andrew MP
Tracey Crouch MP
Caroline Dinenage MP
Sir Roger Gale MP
Simon Kirby MP
Dominic Raab MP
Lee Scott MP
Mike Weatherley MP
A majority of the British public are in favour of keeping a number of activities banned in the Hunting Act illegal: fox hunting (80%); deer hunting (86%); hare hunting and coursing (88%); dog fighting (98%); and badger baiting (95%).
https://
www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3499/Hunting-Poll-2014.aspx
