KENT NEWS: Huntsmen say they do not want to risk a controversial vote in Westminster to repeat the hunting ban amid mounting speculation such a move would be thrown out.
Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to give MPs a free vote on scrapping the ban if the Conservatives secured power.
But the coalition nature of the Government, with the Tories not securing a clear majority, means initial belief the ban would be thrown out is now by no means certain.
With the Liberal Democrats split on the issue, the pro-hunting lobby can now not be so sure of the outcome.
William Meakin, chairman of the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent Hunt, admitted he was concerned about the impact of the coalition Government on moves to lift the ban.
"It is bound to have an effect," he said. "I don’t think any sensible hunting person wants there to be a vote unless it will succeed.
"If it is not going to go through, which it might not given the balance of power, then I would rather not have a vote."
Meanwhile, the campaign to keep the ban in force has begun to gather pace and the Kent Green Party this week urged people to write to their MP calling on them to support the Hunting Act.
Animal rights supporters are also already preparing to launch anti-hunting campaigns and lobby MPs of all parties to keep the ban.
All of which raises concerns we could once again see heated clashes between those vehemently for or against the ban.
Andrew Tyler, the director of Animal Aid, which is based in Tonbridge, said: "The League Against Cruel Sports did a survey of MPs and they are fairly confident, based on their data, that there is not a majority for a repeal.
"We intend to campaign hard and make contact with MPs of all parties to build support against the repeal.
"The majority of the public in poll after poll has indicated that they do not want hunting. Some 75 per cent oppose it in towns and rural areas."
The Green Party’s Steve Campkin, who lives in Tonbridge, said the act has led to 60 successful prosecutions.
He is now urging people to write to their MPs calling on them to sign Early Day Motion 116, which supports the Act.
"They need to be reminded that they have no mandate for extending cruelty to animals," he said.
"Repealing the Hunting Act would be a major step backwards for our civilisation to a barbaric age where killing for fun is acceptable. It is not.
"If we are to move forward into an age of responsibility, respect and equality we must not exclude animals and the environment, there must be no exclusions, that is what equality means. The Hunting Act must be strengthened, extended to all animals and, most importantly, enforced."
The Liberal Conservative administration’s detailed policies included giving MPs the chance to vote on a parliamentary motion later in the year on whether to hold a free vote on the emotive issue of repealing the ban.
The Hunting Act 2004 was brought in by the Labour government and came into force in 2005.
Many have questioned its effectiveness. Mr Tyler on Animal Aid said: "The Act could be strengthened and there should be a clause that could be enacted to stop reckless behaviour. Laying trails of fox urine and then they are amazed when foxes are caught. That is perverse.
"But saying it should be repealed on that basis is ridiculous. Because theft continues does that made the Theft Act pointless? There is not sufficient attention paid to enforcement and not sufficient will there to enforce and prosecute. Although there have been prosecutions."
Meanwhile, Mr Meakin said foxhunting had become more popular because of its increased profile since the ban was brought in. He said it remained a hugely important issue in rural areas.
"What I think about the whole thing is that with the economy in such an awful mess it would not be tactful to say anything about foxhunting straight away anyway," he said.
"I was disappointed from a party political point of view not to have a Conservative majority. But I think we are much better off in a coalition so there is someone else to carry the can of the unpopular measures that will be needed to get the economy back on its feet."
Tim Bonner, spokesman for fox-hunting supporters the Countryside Alliance, said: "The free vote may have happened sooner had the Conservative Party secured an overall majority in the election, but it says in the coalition that there will still be a free vote on the repeal so this will still happen.
"There are Tory supporters and some Lib Dem supporters so we’re confident we will win it."
He added: "The Hunting Act has failed dramatically. There are still plenty of things hunts can do as long as it does not involve the deliberate pursuit of an identifiable mammal.
"Prosecution will only happen if there is the intent to pursue a mammal and there have been no successful prosecutions in the south east since the ban came in."
(BLOB) Have your say. Should the ban stay or go? Email westkent@kosmedia.co.uk.
POSTED: 06/06/2010 09:00:00
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