A new Countryside Alliance Chairman, but the same flawed priorities.
We note with sadness but not surprise that the Countryside Alliance's new Chairman, Lt General Sir Barney White-Spunner has used his first public comments since becoming the organisations leader to call for the repeal of the Hunting Act (2004).
There are so many issues of importance to people living in rural areas not least new planning regulations, unemployment and fuel poverty. Yet Mr White-Spunner has shown he offers no change from the previous failed leadership of the Countryside Alliance.
What a missed opportunity for the Countryside Alliance to show that under new leadership they could really be a champion for rural people – the majority whom polling has shown consistently support the Hunting Act – instead they have chosen to put the interests of a minority of bloodsports enthusiasts ahead of the entire countryside.
Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports says;
“Wildlife crime is an issue of criminality not one of class.
"The Hunting Act is a robust piece of legislation that outlaws cruel hunting with dogs in the name of sport. It targets behaviour that is cruel and that is acknowledged to have no place in twenty-first century society; not people."
Joe promises that;
"We will catch and prosecute wildlife criminals regardless of whether they have a double barrelled name and own mansion or a double barrelled gun and live in a rented flat.”
The League Against Cruel Sports is currently investing its resources to assemble the country's largest investigation force concerned with wildlife crime committed against mammals. We're recruiting 10 investigations officers to this end, who will work closely with police and prosecuting authorities
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Polling conducted by YouGov in December 2011 showed that a vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act was the Coalition Government's least popular animal welfare pledge. Only 6% of the public thought it was the most important animal welfare issue for the government to be tackling.
http://www.league.org.uk/news/1037/Repeal-of-Hunting-Act-tops-poll-as-least-popular-Coalition-pledge-on-animal-welfare
2. In December 2010, polling by Ipsos MORI showed that three people in four, 76%, of the British public think fox hunting should remain illegal, while 84% think stag and hare hunting should also remain illegal. Only one in six, 18%, think fox hunting should be legalised again, with only one in ten, 10%, thinking hare hunting and coursing should be made legal. Seven in ten, 71%, of rural dwellers think fox hunting shouldn’t be legalised.
http://www.league.org.uk/boxingday
3. The League has a range of high resolution images of foxes, hare, deer and other wildlife which are free to publish provided the source is acknowledged. Please contact the Press Office for further information.