The League Against Cruel Sports is questioning David Cameron’s commitment to repealing the Hunting Act following his comments on the issue on this evening’s BBC Countryfile. The Prime Minister used his interview to repeat his pledge to bring forward a vote on repeal of the Hunting Act.
However, the League is challenging Mr Cameron’s commitment to this given his reluctance to act on it since coming into power in May 2010. The PM told Countryfile ‘I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons, I think that the House of Commons should make up its mind about this.”
League chief executive Joe Duckworth said ”David Cameron is the one man who can make a vote on repeal happen yet he doesn’t appear to want to put his money where his mouth is. He is happy to state he wants a free vote yet very reluctant to make it happen and one has to question why this is. The obvious answer is because Mr Cameron knows repealing this legislation would be a deeply unpopular move and flies in the face of public opinion. It also goes against the will of the Parliament where there is currently a majority in favour of keeping the Hunting Act in place.
In the interview to be aired on Sunday evening the Prime Minister also voiced concerns at the forthcoming badger culls. He said these would be fraught with difficulties.
Commenting on the badger cull Mr Duckworth added: “There is absolutely no dispute that action is needed to tackle bovine TB but the proposed culls do not offer a solution and could in fact make matter worse. Culling is not the answer and it’s not too late to reverse the decision and implement a solution which does not involve the needless slaughter of badgers and will actually improve the situation across the country.”
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Hi Chris would you mind if I challenged you and LACS over your views on the Hunting Act? I wrote to you some time ago to tell you how I use my collie dogs to disperse wild deer on my farm without shooting them. Once they are flushed out I simply let the wild deer escape. You replied to me on twitter to say this was 'criminal' 'reprehensible' and 'animal abuse'. However under the law I can use dogs to chase wild deer out of woods as long as I then shoot them. LACS have said that exemptions such as this allow for 'humane pest control'.
ReplyDeleteSurely however by NOT shooting the deer I am causing them far far less suffering as therefore my actions are more not less humane than shooting them.
I'd be hugely grateful if you could explain if and why you think it should be illegal for me not to comply with the conditions for exempt flushing.
Thanks a lot.