Tally Ho! Tories ride into town for election
The Tories are bringing in the fox-hunting cavalry to help them clinch crucial marginal seats.
Hunt supporters are champing at the bit to support Conservative candidates, including those in Gloucester and Stroud.
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Heythrop Hunt
They hope a Tory election victory will lead to the repeal of the Hunting Act 2004, according to an article in The Independent.
The national newspaper has seen documents which show hunt masters have been sending candidates to the most strongly-contested seats ahead of a concerted campaign when the Election date is announced.
It says 26 key seats are being targeted - including both Gloucester and Stroud.
Last June, a leaked memo from Richard Graham, Tory prospective parliamentary candidate for Gloucester, held by Labour MP Parmjit Dhanda, revealed he had thanked members of the Oxfordshire-based Heythrop Hunt for delivering leaflets for the county elections.
But he has denied he’s banking on the hunting fraternity when the whole country goes to the polls.
“The idea there’s somehow an army of hunt people on whom I depend and can call upon is complete fantasy,” he said.
“I have got some friends who may hunt and they voluntarily help to come and deliver leaflets.
“There are others who may play football or rugby, and are also former Labour members, but what their interests are is neither here nor there.”
Mr Dhanda accused his opponent of being in hock to the Heythrop Hunt.
“I am implacably opposed to fox hunting because I think it’s cruel,” he said.
“My Tory opponent is in the pocket of the Heythrop Hunt and he’s been very open about their close relationship as they deliver leaflets for him.
“It’s worrying for the people of Gloucester that their would-be MP is more interested in serving the Hunt’s interests than theirs.
“However, every survey we’ve done for the people of Gloucester show over 70 per cent feel hunting is cruel and don’t want it brought back.”
Stroud’s Labour MP David Drew said hunt supporters would not curry much favour in his constituency.
He said: “If they use this tactic here will be counter-productive as the vast majority of people aren’t in favour of hunting.
“People will ask them to their faces are you really helping the Conservatives or trying to repeal the Hunting Act?”
Heythrop Hunt spokesperson Tonya Wood echoed those concerns and defended her stance.
“I’ve gone elsewhere to leaflet with Richard Graham a couple of times because West Oxfordshire is a safe seat - what’s wrong with me being engaged in the democratic process”? she said.
“As a hunt, our interest is being depicted as a conspiracy or takeover.
“I’m not saying I’m not standing up for hunting, but that’s part of a much bigger picture as we care passionately that farmers and all people who live and work in the country can stay in it and make a living.”
Agreeing, Countryside Alliance Wessex regional director Delly Everard added: “It’s democracy in action.
“But it’s not just hunting people, it’s people campaigning for candidates who support the countryside as a whole, whatever their political colour.”
Meanwhile Richard Graham has taken his election campaign onto Youtube with an election campaign video. Click here to view it and let us know what you think of it by using the story comment facility below.







54 Comments
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by Joe K, Barton & Tredworth
Thursday, April 15 2010, 12:38AM
“Drop down to Shaun Shute's remark about Richard Graham's schooling on March 31st, and my reply, then note that just a couple of hours ago on Twitter, Parmjit Dhanda claimed *he'd* 'just' found out about it.
Hard to know which admission is likely to be more damaging, that Dhanda *really* hadn't researched his opponent's background exhaustively months ago, or that he would actually tell a blatant lie by pretending to come across this information only now, just as the campaign kicks off. There's only one way to find out... Fight!!”
by Lisa, Gloucester
Thursday, April 01 2010, 11:59PM
“Sam, Gloucester,
I really do wish they were my words, but buy the Sun today and you will see them in there and more to go with it. A vote for Lib Dems is a vote for Gordon Brown”
by Sam, Gloucester
Thursday, April 01 2010, 8:46PM
“Don't you talk rubbish Lisa, Gloucester.
Unknown and untested Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg would have the whip hand. Clegg and the Lib Dems are as left-wing as Labour.
These are YOUR words Lib Dems are Lib Dems NOT left-wing like Labour! what an insult to the Lib Dems. You said unknown, untested, so HOW do you know what they would be like running the country, just look at the MESS that the LABOUR AND TORIES have done, do YOU really want them in AGAIN? I CERTAINLY DO NOT. Unless you have tried something YOU cannot make a comment, and to say that if you vote Nick Clegg you get Gordan Brown what an insult, Nick is better looking young and fresh - Gordan is well what words can I use? he has had his time and what a mess he made of that. Your problem would be you voted for the wrong person - You vote conservative and be it on your head, washy Cameron NO.
Yes Labour abolished the 10p tax, but you are paying for it now?
Have you looked at the Lib Dems policy and see what you can save? if not, have a look it is more than 10p?
How many greedy MP's were involved in the Expenses Scandal, at lot of Labour and Tory MP's that must tell you something.”
by Lisa, Gloucester
Thursday, April 01 2010, 1:32PM
“These are not my words, this is taken from a newspaper, i think this says everything.
IF you hate Gordon Brown and want to get rid of him, why not park your vote with the Lib Dems?
Because you'll still end up with Gordon Brown, silly.
Just about everyone wants to get rid of Gordon on May 6, except perhaps his wife Sarah.
Some have yet to be persuaded to back the Tories. That's David Cameron's problem.
But if we stumble into handing Lib Dems the balance of power, that will be OUR problem.
Britain's sickly, debt-laden economy is on the critical list. We need clear, bold and urgent steps to cut that debt.
Such decisions can only be taken by a government with a clear Commons majority.
No opinion poll suggests Labour can win those numbers.
What they do suggest is that we could end up with a hung Parliament, with no party in overall control.
Instead of a decisive new start, we would see Labour and the Tories begging for support from a woolly-minded minority party.
That would accelerate our plunge down the league of economic players as global investors grabbed their money and ran.
Interest rates would soar, house prices would collapse, the Pound would go under and unemployment would rise.
Worse, for those who want to see the back of Gordon Brown, a dodgy coalition government would be led by him.
The Queen must offer him first chance to rule - EVEN if the Tories win most seats but no outright majority.
Unknown and untested Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg would have the whip hand. Clegg and the Lib Dems are as left-wing as Labour.
They are at odds with Tories over almost everything - the economy, over Europe and over the UK voting system.
So it's make-your-mind-up time. But remember... vote Nick, get Gordon.”
by Sam, Gloucester
Wednesday, March 31 2010, 10:58PM
“Richard Graham Tory is a toff with plenty of money to spend on his campaign. I certainly will NOT be voting for him, because one I am an animal lover, and dispise what the hunters do - we are in the 21st century and this should stop, this is an old fashioned idea that happened in the old days, when the toffs had nothing better to do. I have read most of the comments on this page and the wingers are saying it will be between cotswold banker and the sitting MP - why not open your eyes there is a THIRD that is Liberal Democrat Jeremy Hilton, he is no toff, he is a local gloucester man born and bred, cares a lot for Gloucester, do you not think it is about time that you realise there is a THIRD party, so do not dismiss this, the labour get there funds from the union.
Did you know that the LIBERAL DEMOCRATS get NO FUNDING they totally relie on individual donations, so cannot afford all the fancy leaflets, also lib dems are for the working people and understand the people, they are a people party, this CANNOT be said of the other two, so when thinking of voting DO NOT dismiss the Lib Dems think twice, if you let one of the others in God help us all, just look at the mess that both parties have made. A Lib Dem voted is NOTa wasted vote - a labour and tories is definately a waste - so why not think twice, just because you have always voted tories/labour does not mean to say you have to keep voting for them, even though they are useless. Lib Dems cannot do anything worst then the other two have already done, give them a chance, otherwise you will never know, and certainly for Gloucester MP I will be voting for a local man born and breed in Gloucester is the perfect solution for Gloucester - Jeremy you have MY VOTE
There is no other for Gloucester .
Prufrock, Cheltenham said:
The election campaign in Gloucester is going to be a real disappointment - WHY there is a Third party so instead of saying it will be a disappointment for Gloucester, why do you not vote for Jeremy Hilton then? that way you can make sure the others do not get in! Think about it....
NO to fox hunting - NO to Richard Graham - NO to Mr.Dhanda.”
by Sam, gloucester
Wednesday, March 31 2010, 10:27PM
“ujyhgjkl”
by john, gloucester
Wednesday, March 31 2010, 4:58PM
“well said Gar.”
by Gary Miller, Tuffley
Wednesday, March 31 2010, 12:50PM
“That our errant Tory job seeker, Richard (man of the people) Graham, thinks that the interests of his team of mobile supporters that do his leg work is 'neither here nor there' is completely ridiculous and naive beyond belief. Of course it should be of relevance to the inhabitants of the City that he hopes to represent, because it's highly likely that in return, should Cameron and his Old Etonian ilk get elected - heaven forbid - that they'll expect the favour returned with a Parliamentary vote in favour of repealing the fully justified hunting ban. Would they have been keen to take such a role if he was vehemently anti- hunting?
Mr Graham is the architypal candidate for a party that has not changed at all during their wilderness years in opposition, despite what the party managers would have the general public believe. They remain the party of elitism, self interest, greed and arrogantly believe that governmental power is theirs by birth right - it isn't.
Despite what the editorial in The Citizen suggests, I'm equally certain that there are plenty of people in the City and Country as a whole that have the hunting agenda high on their list of priorities for the forhcoming election, and I'm also certain that this will be taken into account when people look at Richard Graham as a prospective MP for this City.
Not in my name thank you very much.”
by JBNTS, Stroud(ish)
Wednesday, March 31 2010, 12:39PM
“Just when I start toying with the idea of voting Conservative, the killing wildlife for fun brigade turn up in their wretched red jackets and I'm zipping safely back to the "anything but that" camp. Blimey - What was I thinking!”
by Evelyn Tent, Glos
Wednesday, March 31 2010, 11:32AM
“I repeat..........”