Don't bring back this cruel 'sport'
TIM Bonner, who claims that the Hunting Act has failed and should be repealed (Letters, Telegraph, November 7), is a representative of the Countryside Alliance.
The CA is the heir of the British Field (read Blood) Sports Society. It is seen as a representative of rural dwellers and is often accepted as such by the media and even the Government. In reality, it represents and cares only about a narrow minority whose shared passion is killing wildlife for fun.
The latest polls (Ipsos/Mori) actually show 72% of rural dwellers think fox hunting should be illegal, even more for other quarry.
Mr Bonner is right that the Hunting Act – long overdue and hugely popular – is not working. This is due to a combination of weak wording and loopholes, inadequate enforcement and some hunters' readiness to bend and even break the law.
But, when criminals circumvent the law, it is strengthened to stop them, not repealed to reward them.
It is highly alarming that the bloodsports lobby now seems to exercise a great influence over the Conservative Party.
David Cameron, a hunter himself, will re-legalise the cruel and barbaric "sport" of hunting with dogs. Yet he claims to represent "compassionate Conservatism". This reveals the hypocrisy at the heart of the Tory leadership.
Alan Kirby,
Haven Court,
Hayle.
2 Comments
by G Reaper, derbyshire
Friday, November 27 2009, 2:56PM
“Excellent post from Mr Kirby. Unfortunately his assessment is spot on.Only last weekend hounds from the Meynell and South Staffs Hunt 'strayed' into my garden whilst several 'Huntsman'Trotted up and down my shared access drive uninvited.The arrogance of these people is only eclipsed by their wanton disregard of laws that don.t suit them.
When reported to the local constabulary? Guess What trespass and criminal damage were classed as a civil matter.
I wonder if this view would have been similar had the 20 or so 'followers' congregated outside my house had been young men wearing hoodies, with a dozen or so out of control dogs trampling through our garden.Methinks not!!!?”
by PJ, Derby
Thursday, November 26 2009, 2:34PM
“It was a colossal waste of parliamentary time pushing this law through in the first place in order to appease Labour MPs. It would be another waste of parliamentary time to debate whether to repeal it which would be to mainly appease Conservative MPs. The irony of this situation is that the Countryside Alliance is a minority group and being so you'd expect to see the government coming down on their side as they seem to with every other minority group and cause!”