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DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn is launching a campaign to support the fox hunting ban amid claims a Conservative government would repeal the Hunting Act.

Mr Benn is calling for people to add their names to a website in a bid to raise awareness about Conservative plans to scrap the ban if they came into power.

 

The campaign, at www.backtheban.com, has been launched to coincide with the traditional Boxing Day hunt.

Mr Benn said fox hunting was “barbaric” and warned getting the act repealed was a “priority” for the Conservative leader David Cameron.

 

"He used to hunt foxes - he talked about fox hunting in his first ever speech to Parliament - and he has said that if he becomes prime minister he will get rid of the fox hunting ban.

 

"But, like the vast majority of people, I think that the barbaric act of letting dogs tear foxes to pieces shouldn't return to our countryside."

 

"If you think the Tories have changed, their views on fox hunting with dogs make it absolutely clear that their priorities haven't," he added.

 

Hunting foxes with dos as been outlawed since 2005, although hounds are still allowed to flush out a fox, but not kill it.

 

Only nine prosecutions of traditional hunts have been made since the ban was made, with three convictions.

 

The Conservatives have long been vocal about their disagreement with the Hunting Act.

 

In an interview with Farmers Weekly, shadow farm minister Jim Paice said a Conservative leadership would allow a free vote to give the opportunity to repeal the ban. 

 

Mr Cameron has also said the ban “doesn’t make sense” and said a Conservative government would consider creating a regulatory body for fox hunting which could work towards "minimising animal suffering".

 

Only a small number of prosecutions under the Hunting Act have reached court since 2005, but the League Against Cruel Sports said the arguments in favour of repeal "don't stack up".

 

"The truth of the matter is that hunting is barbaric and cruel,” chief executive Douglas Batchelor told the BBC.

 

“The only purpose it serves is to appease the sick minds of a very small minority who enjoy torturing animals for their own entertainment

 

But the Countryside Alliance said such laws “should have no place in a modern, tolerant and free society."

 

"The hunting community stands united and determined to secure repeal and huge support is anticipated this year,” it added.

 

I no longer shoot, but I used to be very accurate with both shotgun and small bore rifles. I have needed to deal with various pest species in the different countries in which I have farmed and foxes are the most difficult to control with guns. I still think hunting (as it is known in the UK) is the best way to keep numbers down.

         This is an electioneering diversion from the disasterous state which this desperate Government has got this country into. I fear the General Election is going to be the outcome of a dirty tricks campaign amongs our political leaders. I hope that the people of Britain can focus in on the state of the economy and just how catastrophic it would be for this Government to have any more say in the running of this country.

the local hunt are still more than welcome to hunt on my land, Hillary Benn however is not welcome and if he were ever to appear his presence would not be tolerated!

AllyR:

  This is an electioneering diversion from the disasterous state which this desperate Government has got this country into.

Ally has gone to the root of this action by Hilary Benn and Defra. It is plainly electioneering, and I wonder if the electoral commission will look at the costs involved and re-charge them to the Labour Party.

 

AllyR:

         This is an electioneering diversion from the disasterous state which this desperate Government has got this country into. I fear the General Election is going to be the outcome of a dirty tricks campaign amongs our political leaders. I hope that the people of Britain can focus in on the state of the economy and just how catastrophic it would be for this Government to have any more say in the running of this country.

I just hope people don't get blinded by it and as you say forget how they got us in to th state we were/are in

 

I would not allow a hunt across my land - there is too little of it, the hunt would frighten hell out of the sheep and the grass would be ruined. That said, what people do on their own land by way of pest control should be up to them. I do object to the Government spending vast amounts of time twittering about a very minor issue which basically has no bearing upon the serious problems facing the country. Whilst the chase might be stressful, I do believe that once caught, death for the fox is very quick and final. Is it not more stressful and cruel allowing all these TB infected badgers to die slowly and painfully? Our beloved Government condones this happily to appease the badger lobby.

Unfortunately some of the electorate will be sufficiently gullible to accept sweeties from Uncle Gordon even if they cause gut ache!

This one always makes me laugh! it's not strictly a fox hunting ban, it involves deer, hares, and even mink!

It seems to be foxes which are particularly fondly thought of - a sworn enemy of many agricultural folk but much loved by urbanites...a bit like badgers really.

It seems ludicrous that a general election can be won or lost over a piece of rubbish legislation being upheld or repealed!!

 

i just think of what this goverment have done for us,most of it makes me laugph.labour have ruined this country.

Hilary Ben doesnt know his *** from his elbow,He launches a campaign for the fox hunting ban,does this mean that if that goes thrue we can hunt Deere and hares again?

farmer hill:

Hilary Ben doesnt know his *** from his elbow,He launches a campaign for the fox hunting ban,does this mean that if that goes thrue we can hunt Deere and hares again?

What it does mean is that Labour have already admitted defeat in the next election, or else why bother supporting the ban which has already been passed ??

 

You would think the Government of the day would have more important things to worry about.

The Hunting Ban has been a great piece of well thought out legislation,

 turn out of both riders and followers at Hunts is up, a kill is guaranteed, as a fox is shot to provide the drag scent, any flushed seem to be shot.

So why waste more time debating the issue.

ps,   36 fox's were shot  on this farm last year 

So inept and out of touch is Benn, that with everything else that is going on in Governemnt and , more importantly, in his own department,  he feels it neccessary to open old wounds and spark up a debate about a 5 year old piece of legislation. Has this man not alienated the farming community enough???? Why is it that allowing badgers to die slow and painful deaths from TB perfectly acceptable to him, but killing the odd fox quite abhorrent? The bloke won't be doing himself any favours in the countryside pre GE methinks.

I ask again: Why should a government department be used to promote a Labour Party measure.

After almost 700 (repeat 700)  hours of parliamentary time the hunting bill is now (bad) law. Why therefore should the taxpayer now pay for government resources to be used to promote the law as it stands, but which the Labour Party thinks might be altered by an incoming government? 

Would the Labour Party use tax payers money to promote the continuance of the 30 mph speed limit in urban areas in the event that the Liberal Party put out a manifesto committment to reduce the limit to 20mph?

Peter Wells:

I ask again: Why should a government department be used to promote a Labour Party measure.

Why, Ptere, you do surprise me!  The title of this thread is rather misleading in that the keep the ban campaign and website are Labour Party initiatives not Defra.  True, Benn is on the video promoting the campaign but I'm sure he's doing so entirely in his role as a Labour MP and not with his ministerial hat on (just to be on the safe side he doesn't wear a hat at all in the video).  You don't imagine for one moment that any party in power would be tempted to use public funds to promote party politics do you?  Those Honourable Members surely wouldn't be so un-gentlemanly!

You may also be wondering about the huge increase in 'public service' advertising in the press and on TV in the last few months.  We all must realise that this is entirely because the Government feels it is essential that we should all be informed about everything they have been doing entirely for our own good.  There is no intention whatsoever that we should have any feelings of gratitude for their beneficence which may reflect in the direction our pencil strays in the polling booth.

what i can not understand is the government/defra banning an activity that is part of our sporting heritige it can not be tolerated but the government know they have little to lose coming up to the next election and are prepared to take these measures.