Pro-hunt group misled National Trust
07 October 1998
Pro-hunt group ‘misled National Trust’
A PRO-HUNTING pressure group, backed by several celebrities, has been accused of deceit in its campaign to overturn the National Trusts ban on stag-hunting on its land.
The group, Friends of the National Trust (Font), has chosen candidates for the election to the Trusts policy-making ruling council.
But those opposed to hunting have accused the group of trying to “infiltrate the trust by subterfuge”.
The anti-hunting lobby says none of the seven chosen for the eight vacancies mentioned their connections with hunting in the ballot papers and biographies.
Among the candidates for election are Olympic horsewoman Lucinda Green, who does not mention her connection with the Devon and Somerset Staghounds. Another Font candidate is Robert Whaley-Cohen, who does not reveal he is a member of the Countryside Alliance.
Half of the 52-strong council of the National Trust is nominated and the remainder is elected for three-year periods.
The current election is for eight vacancies, out of which six sitting members are seeking election. The result will be announced on 7 November at the annual general meeting in Cardiff.
The National Trust voted to ban stag-hunting on its lands in 1990. This was fully implemented last year.
- National Trust upholds deer-hunting ban, FWi, 2 October, 1998
- National Trust in partial victory over hunt, FWi, 2 April, 1998
- The Independent 07/10/98 page 13