Labour backlash over trail hunting curbs
SENIOR Labour figures have joined a backlash over Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to eliminate fox hunting, warning it is “misguided” and could cost him the rural vote.
Labour has vowed to toughen the Hunting Act, introduced in 2004 by Sir Tony Blair’s administration, by closing “loopholes” that allow variations to continue, such as trail hunting, where dogs follow a pre-laid scent rather than an animal. Steve Reed, the shadow environment secretary, confirmed the policy, insisting it was something country people wanted to see.
But Baroness Mallalieu, a Labour peer and president of the Countryside Alliance, accused colleagues of manipulating rural issues to appeal to their urban base. She said: “It is impossible not to conclude it would be of great advantage to both the Labour Party and the countryside if hunting were to be removed from the political agenda. Imagine if as much energy had been expended on issues that could really make a difference for rural communities.”
Baroness Hoey, a former Labour MP and sports minister, said: “With so many urgent matters to be dealt with, any Labour government who sees closing loopholes and stopping drag hunting as a priority will be very misguided.”
Lord Blunkett, who was home secretary under Sir Tony, said: “If there’s a problem with the existing law, we should fix it. But if there isn’t a major problem in relation to drag hunting then I would have thought that the police and the justice system have got big enough problems at the moment.”
Lord Mandelson, the former Labour spin doctor who has been advising Sir Keir in the run-up to the election, said the party should focus on policies that are “important to voters” rather than “third or fourth issues” like fox hunting.
Pro-hunting campaigners have criticised the proposals, warning Mr Reed risks “destroying a traditional way of life for rural communities”. Olly Hughes, from the British Hound Sports Association said: “There are far more important matters in rural communities that should be the focus of Labour policy.”
Sir Robert Goodwill, Tory chairman of the Commons environment committee, accused Sir Keir of throwing “red meat” to the “Corbynites”, and said that the “policy has more to do with Islington than it does… the countryside”.
The law makes it an offence to hunt wild animals with dogs. But it is still legal to lay trails using artificial scents, such as fox urine, which critics claim is a smokescreen for the real thing.