Three members of the College Valley and North Northumberland Hunt were last week found guilty of illegally hunting a fox during a hunt meet at West Kyloe Farm, near Lowick, Northumberland on 27th February 2014.
Appearing before Berwick Magistrates’ Court, joint Master, Timothy Wyndham Basil Smalley, huntsman, Ian Robert McKie and kennel huntsman, Andrew John Proe of the College Valley and North Northumberland Hunt, were all convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs, contrary to Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.
Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive at the League Against Cruel Sports said: “We are extremely pleased with the verdict. We hope this successful case will make other hunt members think twice before breaking the law and causing harm to wildlife.
“We know that many hunts continue to regularly flout the law. Our team of professional investigators work hard in the field to capture illegal activity and work with the relevant statutory bodies to bring about prosecutions.”
The case was brought by the Crown Prosecution Service following evidence supplied by the League Against Cruel Sports and further investigation by Northumbria Police.
Joint Master, Timothy Wyndham Basil Smalley was fined £2,075 with £120 victim surcharge. The Huntsman, Ian Robert McKie was fined £1,150 with a £115 victim surcharge. Kennel Huntsman, Andrew John Proe was fined £480 with a £48 victim surcharge.
Each defendant was ordered to pay costs of £385.
Monday 20 October 2014
Sunday 19 October 2014
TORY DIRTY TRICKS DEPT'S BOTCHED 1970s SMEAR BACKFIRES
WHEN a politician is recorded without their knowledge making comments at a fringe event or gathering, there normally follows a PR disaster over their controversial utterances.
But I was far from disappointed to learn on this week’s Sunday Politics Show that Conservative Party representatives had made recordings of me without my knowledge.
What was particularly pleasing was how the attempt at political mischief making backfired calamitously, with even Sunday Politics Show host Andrew Neill describing the ruse as “far from impressive”.
In fact, rather than cause me any embarrassment, I was pleased the comments were given air time – even though the first I knew of it was when I was watching the show live on Sunday morning!
The recording featured me detailing many of the great successes of 1970s Britain that made our country anything but the “sick man of Europe” that some would have us believe during that era.
And the facts back up the point I was making.
While the government boasts today about an economic growth which tells half a story as public services gasp for air, the 1.33 per cent growth achieved to 2013-14 is nothing like
the average 2.255 per cent achieved in the 1970s.
Manufacturing represents just 12 per cent of the UK economy today, as opposed to 30 per cent back then.
We are desperately in need of new homes today, and the 135,550 per year managed during this Government’s mid-term is not a patch on the 365,000 achieved at the start of the 1970s.
The list goes on, with unemployment in 2014 more than double what it was 40 years earlier.
Now I’m not saying we should hark back to the old days. Times move on and politics has to move with it.
But I do know that as a 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer in the 1970s, I was able to afford to buy my own comfortable home, something of a pipe dream for many highly qualified professionals starting out on the job ladder today.
What I do believe is that we can learn from our past – be it our successes or our failures – and there is no shame in remembering either from that particular era.
So while those responsible for releasing the recording sought to paint a picture of regressive politics hankering for a return to the dark old days, the truth is somewhat different on both counts.
Reflecting on the past as we seek to move forwards is absolutely essential, and remembering history for what it was rather than what political cowards paint it to be is vital.
And I can’t deny there was something hugely satisfying about watching a panel of analysts and commentators treat the attempt to cause embarrassment with the contempt it merited.
But I was far from disappointed to learn on this week’s Sunday Politics Show that Conservative Party representatives had made recordings of me without my knowledge.
What was particularly pleasing was how the attempt at political mischief making backfired calamitously, with even Sunday Politics Show host Andrew Neill describing the ruse as “far from impressive”.
In fact, rather than cause me any embarrassment, I was pleased the comments were given air time – even though the first I knew of it was when I was watching the show live on Sunday morning!
The recording featured me detailing many of the great successes of 1970s Britain that made our country anything but the “sick man of Europe” that some would have us believe during that era.
And the facts back up the point I was making.
While the government boasts today about an economic growth which tells half a story as public services gasp for air, the 1.33 per cent growth achieved to 2013-14 is nothing like
the average 2.255 per cent achieved in the 1970s.
Manufacturing represents just 12 per cent of the UK economy today, as opposed to 30 per cent back then.
We are desperately in need of new homes today, and the 135,550 per year managed during this Government’s mid-term is not a patch on the 365,000 achieved at the start of the 1970s.
The list goes on, with unemployment in 2014 more than double what it was 40 years earlier.
Now I’m not saying we should hark back to the old days. Times move on and politics has to move with it.
But I do know that as a 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer in the 1970s, I was able to afford to buy my own comfortable home, something of a pipe dream for many highly qualified professionals starting out on the job ladder today.
What I do believe is that we can learn from our past – be it our successes or our failures – and there is no shame in remembering either from that particular era.
So while those responsible for releasing the recording sought to paint a picture of regressive politics hankering for a return to the dark old days, the truth is somewhat different on both counts.
Reflecting on the past as we seek to move forwards is absolutely essential, and remembering history for what it was rather than what political cowards paint it to be is vital.
And I can’t deny there was something hugely satisfying about watching a panel of analysts and commentators treat the attempt to cause embarrassment with the contempt it merited.
Saturday 11 October 2014
POLICE FAILURE TO ACT LEADS TO PRIVATE PROSECUTION AGAINST HUNTERS
THE League Against Cruel Sports launched a private prosecution on Thursday 9th October 2014 against six members of the Devon and Cornwall based Lamerton Hunt.
The League was left with no option but to bring a private prosecution against hunt members after Devon and Cornwall Police failed to deal with evidence supplied by the charity’s Investigations Team.
The League contacted the police in May but they did not respond for two months and despite several follow up enquiries, they delayed so long the League was left with no option but to commence proceedings itself.
The League has obtained written independent legal advice that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that it would be in the public interest to prosecute
Summonses have been served alleging an offence under Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004 in relation to an incident which occurred on the 26th March 2014 when the Lamerton Hunt met at Holdstrong Bungalow, near Lydford in Devon.
Joint master George Moyse, huntsman David Lewis, whipper-in Steve Craddock and terrier men, Gilmore Lewis, Stephen Mitchell and Wayne Bartlett of the Lamerton Hunt have been summonsed to appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on November 21, 2014.
The League has also lodged a formal complaint about the actions of Devon and Cornwall Police with the Chief Constable, Shaun Sawyer.
The League was left with no option but to bring a private prosecution against hunt members after Devon and Cornwall Police failed to deal with evidence supplied by the charity’s Investigations Team.
The League contacted the police in May but they did not respond for two months and despite several follow up enquiries, they delayed so long the League was left with no option but to commence proceedings itself.
The League has obtained written independent legal advice that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that it would be in the public interest to prosecute
Summonses have been served alleging an offence under Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004 in relation to an incident which occurred on the 26th March 2014 when the Lamerton Hunt met at Holdstrong Bungalow, near Lydford in Devon.
Joint master George Moyse, huntsman David Lewis, whipper-in Steve Craddock and terrier men, Gilmore Lewis, Stephen Mitchell and Wayne Bartlett of the Lamerton Hunt have been summonsed to appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on November 21, 2014.
The League has also lodged a formal complaint about the actions of Devon and Cornwall Police with the Chief Constable, Shaun Sawyer.
Thursday 9 October 2014
UKIP: MORE TORY THAN THE TORIES!
As voters go to the polls in the constituencies of Clacton and Heywood and Middleton today, the media hyperbole about UKIP is continuing apace.
The media reportage is nothing short of scandalous, with the public being fed a constant stream of articles about how UKIP poses a threat to both the Conservatives and Labour.
UKIP’s extremist policies are glossed over, even embellished by most media outlets. Their outrageous policies are rarely challenged and the details of what they believe in only surface very infrequently.
This approach to ‘news’ coverage of UKIP is doing a huge disservice to our democracy by failing to inform the electorate to enable people to make an informed choice.
I can understand why a Conservative supporter might vote UKIP, but I can’t see why Labour supporter would when UKIP’s values are completely at odds with Labour’s.
The truth that the media will not tell the public is that UKIP are more Tory than the Tories.
The interests of democracy demands that the truth about UKIP is exposed to public scrutiny.
I wonder how many people realise that UKIP’s policies include charges to see your GP, more tax breaks for the wealthiest and tax rises for everyone else.
I wonder how many Labour voters, who are considering voting UKIP, know that earlier this year Nigel Farage described himself as “the only politician keeping the flame of Thatcherism alive”
The truth is UKIP are a more extreme version of the Conservative Party and have nothing in common with the values of Labour voters.
Last year UKIP’s health spokesperson, Jonathan Stanley, said they wanted to introduce charges to use key NHS services, including your GP.
http://www.public-sector.co.uk/news/article-426
Just after the Coalition came to power UKIP’s deputy leader, Paul Nuttall, said: “I would like to congratulate the coalition government for bringing a whiff of privatisation into the beleaguered National Health Service.”
http://www.paulnuttallmep.com/?p=712
UKIP want even deeper cuts than those already delivered by the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition. Speaking on BBC News in December 2012 Nigel Farage said: “You know we keep hearing this big debate about the cuts, where are the cuts? … I just don't think [David Cameron] is being radical enough at all."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20612624
Tim Aker, UKIP’s Head of Policy, said in August this year that UKIP they would abolish the top rate of tax giving 16,000 millionaires a break of over £100,000
http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/opinions/exclusive-what-will-ukips-election-2015-manifesto-look-like
A 2010 UKIP policy document on small businesses said they would abolish workers’ rights, including parental leave, maternity pay, holiday pay, sick pay, and even redundancy pay.
And is if all that wasn’t bad enough, UKIP want even higher bankers’ bonuses. In January this year Nigel Farage told the Daily Telegraph: ”We don’t need official caps or limits.”
The media reportage is nothing short of scandalous, with the public being fed a constant stream of articles about how UKIP poses a threat to both the Conservatives and Labour.
UKIP’s extremist policies are glossed over, even embellished by most media outlets. Their outrageous policies are rarely challenged and the details of what they believe in only surface very infrequently.
This approach to ‘news’ coverage of UKIP is doing a huge disservice to our democracy by failing to inform the electorate to enable people to make an informed choice.
I can understand why a Conservative supporter might vote UKIP, but I can’t see why Labour supporter would when UKIP’s values are completely at odds with Labour’s.
The truth that the media will not tell the public is that UKIP are more Tory than the Tories.
The interests of democracy demands that the truth about UKIP is exposed to public scrutiny.
I wonder how many people realise that UKIP’s policies include charges to see your GP, more tax breaks for the wealthiest and tax rises for everyone else.
I wonder how many Labour voters, who are considering voting UKIP, know that earlier this year Nigel Farage described himself as “the only politician keeping the flame of Thatcherism alive”
The truth is UKIP are a more extreme version of the Conservative Party and have nothing in common with the values of Labour voters.
Last year UKIP’s health spokesperson, Jonathan Stanley, said they wanted to introduce charges to use key NHS services, including your GP.
http://www.public-sector.co.uk/news/article-426
Just after the Coalition came to power UKIP’s deputy leader, Paul Nuttall, said: “I would like to congratulate the coalition government for bringing a whiff of privatisation into the beleaguered National Health Service.”
http://www.paulnuttallmep.com/?p=712
UKIP want even deeper cuts than those already delivered by the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition. Speaking on BBC News in December 2012 Nigel Farage said: “You know we keep hearing this big debate about the cuts, where are the cuts? … I just don't think [David Cameron] is being radical enough at all."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20612624
Tim Aker, UKIP’s Head of Policy, said in August this year that UKIP they would abolish the top rate of tax giving 16,000 millionaires a break of over £100,000
http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/opinions/exclusive-what-will-ukips-election-2015-manifesto-look-like
A 2010 UKIP policy document on small businesses said they would abolish workers’ rights, including parental leave, maternity pay, holiday pay, sick pay, and even redundancy pay.
And is if all that wasn’t bad enough, UKIP want even higher bankers’ bonuses. In January this year Nigel Farage told the Daily Telegraph: ”We don’t need official caps or limits.”
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