Fox hunting in Britain

While you may not be in favour of a ban (Ref: letter published in DS), I hope you will accept that the law has been arrived at after an enormous amount of debate and after numerous free votes in both Houses of Parliament. It is also worth remembering the lengths we went to in trying to reconcile opposing views and in listening to the views of people who hunt. This Act should be complied with like any other Act of Parliament. The British government fully supports the right of peaceful protest, and accepts the right of the Countryside Alliance and others to challenge it in the courts, but believes it is time to move on from the debate about the rights and wrongs of hunting to engage positively in the process of preparing for the implementation of the Act.

The government hopes that hunters who wish to will diversify into drag-hunting or other forms of riding, so that they can enjoy their activities while remaining within the letter and spirit of the law.