Gone to ground? Fox-hunting enemies still wary of Tories
Modernisers in the Conservative party want fox-hunting to “go to ground”, according to a Liberal Democrat MP.
Breaking the law? Cameron mocked for allegations of drug-taking past
David Cameron was accused of lying to the Commons today, when a lighthearted response to a question on fox-hunting saw him tell MPs he had never broken the law.
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Public remains against fox hunting
By politics.co.uk staff The majority of the public continues to believe fox hunting would be illegal, a politics.co.uk poll suggests. The straw poll found 3,408 people (38%) believe fox hunting should become legal, against 5,450 (62%) who believe it should remain illegal. Take the politics.co.uk poll Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other […]
Hunting vote not whipped
By politics.co.uk staff The government will not whip MPs to repeal the ban on hunting. Despite overturning the Hunting Act being a Tory manifesto commitment, David Cameron is reported to be willing to upset his right wing on the issue to keep his Liberal Democrat coalition partners on board. The Financial Times reports that the […]
Labour on hunting ban offensive
By Alex Stevenson Environment secretary Hilary Benn has written to David Cameron calling on him to change Conservative plans to repeal the fox-hunting ban. The open letter, which challenges the Tories’ intention to give MPs a free vote on the ban, comes on the fifth anniversary of the Hunting Act passing into law. Thousands of […]
Tory donations linked to hunting policy
By politics.co.uk staff David Cameron’s agriculture spokesman received considerable donations from critics of the hunting ban just after attacking it. Nick Herbert received £24,500 from seven different donations, including £1,500 from gun sellers William and Sons, £2,000 from grouse-shooting magnate Michael Cannon and another £2,000 from a 47,000-acre hunting estate in Sutherland, according to research […]
Tories may suffer decision to reintroduce hunting
By politics.co.uk The Tories may have to reappraise their views on foxhunting after a poll found most voters were turned off by it. Shadow foreign secretary William Hague appeared to confirm that hunting would be back if the Tories won power again, a position which contradicts previous policy statements. Tory officials had previously assured journalists […]
Police to stop monitoring hunts
By politics.co.uk staff Police will stop monitoring illegal hunts in a change of policy that could mark the effective collapse of the hunting ban. New guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said that enforcing the Act was impossible and should not be a priority. Speaking to the Times, Richard Brunstrom, chief constable […]
Man found guilty of hunting with dogs
A Devon huntsman has become the first person to be successfully prosecuted under the Labour government’s anti-hunting laws. Tony Wright was found guilty of breaking the Hunting Act 2004 by signalling for his hounds to pursue foxes when the fleeing animals should have been shot. The 52-year-old denied breaching the act when he led the […]
