There's no place for fox hunts in civilised society, Mr Cameron

YOU can tell a lot about a society from its laws.

Laws that undergo reform to reflect shifting public opinion are fundamental to a progressive democracy.

It comes as little surprise then that Call Me Dave, so keen to show how in touch he is with the views of the electorate and how thoroughly modernised his party is, is backing same-sex marriage.

Considering that homosexuality was still a crime in Britain only 50 years ago, this symbolises the much-to-be-rejoiced culmination of a rapid shift in public opinion, social acceptance and tolerance with its roots deep in the principles of equality and fairness.

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But what about hunting with dogs? Here is an antiquated tradition with a stalwart voice of opposition incongruent with contemporary society on so many accounts.

And while hunting's comrades in goriness like cock-fighting, bull-baiting and dog-fighting, were outlawed centuries ago, Mr Cameron has plans to repeal the prohibition of one of the bloodiest blood sports.

Unlike marriage equality, hunting with dogs cannot be justified by any fundamental human right or principle, necessity or need – food is plentiful and there are better ways to control pests.

No, the pro-hunting lobby is simply about those who get a kick out of chasing a live animal to exhaustion and then ripping it to shreds.

Despite being brought up in the country I, along with every other anti-hunter, am often accused of being ignorant of the ways of country folk. Hunters would like me to think that they are country-loving do-gooders and insist they are fulfilling community service and controlling our vermin.

Name-calling aside, I am the first to admit my ignorance at understanding anyone's disposition who denies the cruelty involved in setting a pack of up to 50 hounds and 70 riders against one helpless animal and watching it be eviscerated while it is still alive.

Whether the current ban is temporarily repealed in a red-faced tantrum of pigheadedness or not, the outlaw of this archaic and barbaric practice will eventually triumph once and for all.

And this is because the ban has nothing to do with liberal values, livelihoods or pest control – all which are vain attempts to justify the "necessity" of this cruelty.

No, it all comes down to holding people responsible for their actions and the consequences of these actions which, in the case of hunting with dogs, inflicts pain and the taking of another life for nothing other than mere self gratification. This is something a civilised society agrees is unacceptable for a human to do.

So, perhaps you should bear this in mind, Mr Cameron, to understand a time, a nation and the kind of society we live in, you only need to look at its laws.

If you want to be the leader of a modern 21st-century party, its values cannot be rooted in the dark ages.