Ban here to stay
Contrary to Robin Johnson's views (Mailbox, January 17), recent figures show that the balance of opinion in the House of Commons is against a repeal of the Hunting Act.
It is therefore highly unlikely that a debate on the Hunting Act will take place any time soon; possibly never. Mr Johnson should also note that I am not the only person against hunting. An Ipsos Mori survey showed 76 per cent of the British public think fox hunting should remain illegal.
Despite propaganda from the Countryside Alliance boasting of support for repeal and for hunting, those who monitor hunts are seeing fewer supporters and followers and fewer meets. Mr Johnson might think the Hunting Act is "ridiculous" but he is in the minority.
Mrs Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.
9 Comments
by Arden, Braunstone
Friday, January 21 2011, 6:00PM
“David, my apologies I did not read the thrust of your comment about polls correctly, you are not guilty of my charge against you and wholly withdraw it”
by Arden, Braunstone
Friday, January 21 2011, 5:58PM
“Oh dear here we go again. Not a very effective method of controlling foxes then, David, so why do pro's use this as an argument.
On polls, they are grounded in well established statistical methods where projection and extrapolation are a fine science. To say they did not interview the whole population is ridiculous, but I do not believe the percentage given either”
by paul, Houghton
Friday, January 21 2011, 3:45PM
“David Great Easton. 3% or 93% your point is what. It is not how many are killed by being ripped to pieces that matters it is how they are killed. Yes foxes kill to survive like all meat eaters. And by the comments on the MORI poll suggest that no poll can ever be given any credit .”
by David, Great Easton, Rural Leicestershire.
Friday, January 21 2011, 2:48PM
“Dear Mrs. Allison, here she goes again siting this time a MORI poll adding that "76% of the British public think fox hunting should remain illegal". What absolute utter tosh!!
Did MORI question the WHOLE of the British public? No, I didn't think so.
What you meant to say was that of those who were asked the percentage may have arose, however, as MORI generally ask only a minute proportion of the total population the figure is really useless.
Of course it makes a good headline figure for antis like you but in reality it means very little.
Paul of Houghton, fox hunting is not "a barbaric past-time" far from it. The act of a hound actually killing the vermin fox may be described as some as barbaric but as we have discussed on many previous occasions the number of times a fox is caught in this way represents a mere 3% of the fox population if that.”
by Arden, Braunstone
Friday, January 21 2011, 1:53PM
“" If it were rats then no one would be bothered but a cute bushy tail seems to give them special status" PB, Leicester
Take you point and cull them if necessary, but I would object if someone made a sport (or recreation persuit) out of it, and would not understand that mentality”
by PB, Leicester
Friday, January 21 2011, 1:41PM
“I am not bothered if fox hunting survives or not. Foxes are vermin. If it were rats then no one would be bothered but a cute bushy tail seems to give them special status. Lets face it we are only really bothered about cuddly looking animals. Unlike Elizabeth, foxes are meat eaters, that means killing other animals (birds, rabbits, fish etc), either domestic or wild. I presume that no one cares about the animals that the fox butchers.”
by Paul, Houghton
Friday, January 21 2011, 12:38PM
“Another letter from Elizebeth Allison and know doubt she will receive some criticism. So let me offer her some support. Fox hunting is a barbaric past time it does not regulate the fox population as some of the supporters try and claim.How many people who write in have witnessed the kill of a fox by a pack of hounds. It is not always quick and the sound of the fox as it gets ripped to pieces is heart wrenching. Do not be hood winked into thinking that the hunt uses birds of prey to kill the fox to 'stay within the law' that is just a front. I have very recently witnessed a hunt chase a fox and when it went into a coppice sent the hounds in after it. Not all but most are a bunch of stuck up snobs who believe they own the country side, and when they are out hunting they have total disregard for dog walkers or other wildlife. Hunting will not be back it will continue but unlawfully. I do not agree with all the Mrs Allison says but anybody who shows passion to fellow creatures and is against cruelty has my full support. No i am not a veggie.”
by Peter, Wigston
Friday, January 21 2011, 12:03PM
“Attacks by foxes on humans are extremely, extremely rare unlike dogs. There seems to be an ever increasing number of dreadful attacks by dogs on children and adults.
As for the spread of disease - I have a big problem with disease spreading cat poo regularly left in my garden; and the walk to school is 'coloured' by large amounts of disease spreading dog poo on the pavements.
But I still do not advocate dressing in a red coat, screaming tally-ho, and ripping cats and dogs to bits for fun. I am much too civilised!”
by PB, Leicester
Friday, January 21 2011, 10:32AM
“" those who monitor hunts are seeing fewer supporters and followers and fewer meets" slightly biased data I think!
I don't think it wil be long before there is a call to cull the fox population because of the spread of disease and wildlife damage. so a no-win situation for the fox.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7809067/Fox-attack-cull-needed-say-experts.html”