«Breaking News» Labour peer blasts party for ‘playing the class card’ in calling sentences for hunting with dogs

The Labour Party was accused of ‘playing the class card’ after promising to consult on tougher penalties for hunters who break the law.

The Mail reported yesterday how shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman revealed a future Labour government would review penalties under the Hunting Act 2004, including a consultation on the introduction of jail terms.

Baroness Ann Mallalieu, President of the Countryside Alliance, said: ‘The old “class card” is being played here because some in my party, wrongly in my view, believe it brings in votes.

‘Politicians of all parties would have been well advised to go along to a local hunt today to meet and judge what people really think.’

The Labour Party was accused of ‘playing the class card’ after promising to consult on tougher penalties for hunters who break the law

Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: ‘Labour’s obsessive pursuit of hunting looks increasingly bizarre to people in the countryside, as well as to those in towns and cities.

‘Politicians who prioritise issues that do not matter to the vast majority of the electorate are very likely to be perceived as out of touch and ignorant of people’s real concerns.’

Grove and Rufford Hunt chairman Nick Alexander also criticised Labour’s plans yesterday.

‘It’s not welcome. It just seems a bit bizarre that there’s lots of other things going on in the world at this time and, if that’s the priority, then someone needs to have a word,’ he said.

Riders in Okewoodhill near Dorking, Surrey, for the Boxing Day hunt. Grove and Rufford Hunt chairman Nick Alexander also criticised Labour’s plans yesterday

Labour has pledged to strengthen laws banning hunting with hounds – by adding the possible threat of prison sentences.

Ahead of the annual Boxing Day hunts, environment spokesman Sue Hayman said an incoming Labour government would review Hunting Act penalties to ensure there is an effective deterrent.

This would include a consultation on introducing jail terms – bringing the law in line with the penalties for other wildlife crimes.

Mrs Hayman said the party would also consider measures to prevent the exploitation of ‘loopholes’ in the 2004 legislation, which covers England and Wales.

Tradition: Essex Hunt on Boxing Day in Matching Green village. Around 250,000 people will gather across the country today for the busiest date in the fox hunting calendar

It could include a new ‘recklessness’ clause to prevent trail or drag hunts being used as cover for the illegal hunting of wild mammals.

Mrs Hayman insisted: ‘Labour’s 2004 Hunting Act was a key milestone in banning this cruel blood sport, but since then new practices have developed to exploit loopholes in the legislation.

‘While Theresa May proposed scrapping the Hunting Act altogether, Labour is today calling time on those who defy the law by announcing several measures that would clampdown on illegal hunting. Labour is the true party of animal welfare.

‘These new proposals form part of the next chapter in striving to ensure our laws and regulations on animal welfare are up to date and fit for purpose.’

Environment spokesman Sue Hayman said an incoming Labour government would review Hunting Act penalties

Labour’s promise came as a poll commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports found only one in six rural residents believe hunting with dogs reflects countryside values. The polling by Survation found that more than nine in ten think that observing nature reflects true rural values.

Around 250,000 people will gather across the country today for the busiest date in the fox hunting calendar.

But there are fears Boxing Day hunts could descend into ugly violence amid escalating tension with animal rights campaigners.

The Countryside Alliance has claimed hunts are being ‘plagued by balaclava-clad animal rights activists intent on breaking the law’. It alleged protesters have called children on ponies ‘murderers’, trespassed on private land and wrecked riders’ cars.

In ongoing clashes, a female anti-hunt activist was airlifted to hospital on December 16 after suffering an alleged ‘unprovoked attack’ by members of the Eggesford Hunt in Devon.

Earlier this month a hunt saboteur’s car was attacked with a hammer in Leicestershire while a farmer dumped a tractor-load of manure on a van full of activists in Staffordshire.

Activists claim hunts flout the 2004 ban by pretending to lay false scents – in a practice known as trail hunting – only to set hounds on real foxes. Chris Pitt, of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: ‘The hunts are behaving as they did before the fox hunting ban was introduced, killing thousands of foxes and sadly getting away with their brutal and barbaric “sport”.

A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: ‘Hunts comply with the Hunting Act 2004.’

 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/27/labour-peer-blasts-party-for-playing-the-class-card-in-calling-sentences-for-hunting-with-dogs/
Main photo article The Labour Party was accused of ‘playing the class card’ after promising to consult on tougher penalties for hunters who break the law.
The Mail reported yesterday how shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman revealed a future Labour government would review penalties under the Hunting Act 2004, in...

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