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Hunters vow to return
Dec 27 2002
By Shahid Naqvi, Birmingham Post
Midland fox hunters have struck a defiant note against the Government, vowing they would be back next year despite the threat of new legislation to curtail the sport.
Members of the Worcestershire Hunt spoke out at their traditional Boxing Day meet in Droitwich amid protest from animal rights activists, which included a streak by two men.
Feelings ran high at meets across the country with anti-hunt campaigners claiming that victory was in sight thanks to the Hunting Bill, which could impose strict new regulations in 2003.
However, David Palmer, joint master of the Worcestershire Hunt, said: "There is no way this is going to be the last time we are out hunting on Boxing Day.
"We have every confidence that common sense will prevail."
The Countryside Alliance released a new poll yesterday which claimed that 69 per cent of people nationwide were against a ban.
"The opinion polls have swung strongly in our favour and we put an immense amount of trust in the independent and intellectual views of the House of Lords," added Mr Palmer.
"The protesters are very welcome to come and present their view but they have an outdated argument against what they see as the toffs enjoying themselves, which is just not true."
Protesters formed a gathering of about 100 men, women and children that hurled abuse at members of the 60-strong Worcestershire Hunt riding to their meeting point in the car park of the Raven Hotel in Droitwich.
Two men in their twenties stripped off and ran across the car park area, but were led away by police officers.
One of them shouted: "Even foxes need love at Christmas", while the other had the words "ban it" written on his back.
Anti-hunt lobbyists further stoked debate by releasing their own survey yesterday showing that 80 per cent of British people think hunting with dogs is cruel.
Tony Blair vowed in 1998 that he would ban the sport, but the move has sparked outrage from many quarters of the countryside who claimed their livelihoods would be threatened.
The Hunting Bill advocates a "middle way" compromise on fox hunting aimed at appeasing both camps.
It says another form of controlling the fox population must be used where hunting is found to cause "unnecessary or avoidable suffering" - a rule that would effectively only allow the sport under strict licence.
The Bill - which is opposed by Tories - is expected to go to the Commons in February and if passed by House of Lords could come into force by next Christmas.
According to the Countryside Alliance poll, 41 per cent of people are in favour of the middle-way option.
Only 36 per cent said hunting should be banned because cruelty was more important than civil liberties.
Simon Hart, director of the Campaign for Hunting, said: "For the first time ever we see support for a ban falling behind calls for a licensing solution for hunting."
