Come clean on fox hunting, MP candidates told
CANDIDATES campaigning to be the Cotswolds' next MP have been told to be honest in their views on the hunting ban.
Gillian Purser, who owns a farm near Clapton-on-the-Hill, spoke out after an election leaflet from Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown described the legislation as unworkable.
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The Heythrop Hunt in Stow-On-The-Wold
The 55-year-old believes candidates should be clear about whether they support the principles of the ban or want it to be scrapped.
She said: "This is something I have been campaigning about for years. I find it hard to see how a party can be compassionate if it can so glibly dismiss the suffering of an animal.
"But whether they believe that or not, I would just like to see a little honesty. Saying the legislation is unworkable is a typically nebulous statement from Mr Clifton-Brown. It means nothing. If you want to sanction something which involves the torture of animals, say so."
The Hunting Act was introduced in 2005 to outlaw hunting of foxes, deers, hares and mink with dogs.
Since its inception, debate has raged around the alleged loopholes in the law which allow hunters to track different animals or "flush" foxes into the open to be shot or killed by a bird of prey.
Mr Clifton-Brown said: "It is unworkable. There is nothing worse than having a piece of legislation which is unenforceable, despite the huge numbers of hours which were spent working on it.
"But in principle I am in favour of fox hunting, providing it is done properly." Mike Collins (Lib Dem), Kevin Lister (Green) and Mark Dempsey (Labour) all criticised Mr Clifton-Brown's stance.
Mr Dempsey said: "I have always supported the ban on fox hunting because it is wrong to allow cruelty in the name of sport."
Mr Lister said: "The ban should be upheld. It is not the biggest issue on the agenda, but it is a barbaric sport."
Mr Collins condemned the principle of fox hunting, but agreed the legislation needs to be altered.
He said: "It is impractical. I would like them to start again with a clean slate."
Gloucestershire is home to several large hunts, including the Cotswold Hunt, the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt and the Oxfordshire-based Heythrop Hunt, which often rides out from the Cotswolds.
4 Comments
by Dave Basement, The Cotswolds
Sunday, April 25 2010, 9:51PM
“I shall not be voting for Mr Clifton-Brown purely on his views and his leaders views on Hunting With Dogs. This act needs to be tightened up and policed by the police, not left to Joe Public to be attacked physically and verbally by people who think they know better. Check out YouTube for the acts of violence against Hunt Monitors from the thugs on horseback and their followers. Disgusting!”
by David, London
Saturday, April 10 2010, 11:10PM
“Labour steam rollered the bill? They took over 5 years and over 700 hours of parliament time!!
Give it up NB because you are fast becoming a total laughing stock with your pointless pro-hunt drivel.
Anybody who thinks killing animals is fun is seriously mentally disturbed. I suspect most of these bloodsport fans should really be in a hospital ... with a straight jacket and rubber walls!”
by Gill Purser, Cheltenham
Saturday, April 10 2010, 3:35PM
“Norman, You say "Just as many [foxes] are being killed but in far worse ways than ever before and quite often causes long term pain and suffering". This is an argument for tighter controls over shooting and snaring with which I agree. But it is not an argument which can be used to justify bringing back the additional burden for the fox of being cruelly hounded to a savage death. The Hunting Act is designed to prevent the unnecessary suffering inflicted on fox, deer and hare by those who would set a pack of dogs upon them for the sake of amusement. It is only made 'unworkable' if the hunts choose to ignore the sprirt of the law. Gill.”
by NORMAN BRYANT, west sussex
Saturday, April 10 2010, 1:16PM
“The main point on the Ban is that Labour steam rollered it through Parliament and were so keen in having a dig at the Tories that it was not thought about correctly, it appears that Labours real objection was the Toffs in Red Coats and not about protecting foxes. Just as many are being killed but in far worse ways than ever before and quite often causes long term pain and suffering. Yes the act does need looking at and perhaps take notice of the Burns report which Labour largely ignored after us all paying for it.”