Alliance slams Labour manifesto

THE COUNTRYSIDE Alliance has criticised the Labour Party for dropping its commitment not to place ‘restrictions on the sports of angling and shooting‘.

The commitment originally appeared in the Party‘s 2001 manifesto, but has been dropped from the 2005 manifesto, launched on Wed (Apr 13).

In addition the manifesto pledges to “tighten the law on air guns” and says that the Animal Welfare Bill, which will regulate the rearing of game birds, will be introduced as soon as possible in the new Parliament.

“The Labour Party is quite right to record the revolutionary reforms to agricultural subsidy, and we welcome commitments on affordable housing, local sourcing of food for institutions and non-food crops,” said Simon Hart, Alliance chief executive.

“However, this manifesto will do nothing to dispel concern in the countryside that the sort of prejudiced, discriminatory legislation that was imposed on rural people in the last parliament could be repeated in the next.

“Many people considered that Labour‘s commitments not to restrict other country sports while legislating against hunting was a cynical ploy.”

“The decision to drop those commitments after the passing of the Hunting Act confirms those fears,” he added.