Labour’s first test of fox hunting promise is just hours away
Posted 31st July 2024
Press release
For immediate release
National animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports says the first test of Labour’s animal welfare promises is just hours away.
Licences that allow so-called ‘trail’ hunting on Ministry of Defence land are due to be renewed by September 1, but MOD officials have to tell hunts by August 1 if they’re going to be scrapped.
Labour promised in its manifesto to end trail hunting, labelled by senior police officers and the courts as a “smokescreen” for old fashioned illegal hunting, which was supposedly banned by the Hunting Act 2004.
Chris Luffingham, the League’s Acting Chief Executive, said: “The League has long campaigned to see trail hunting ended on MOD land, and now the new government has its first chance to make a positive change for foxes with a simple sweep of its pen.
“To renew these licences would fly in the face of their manifesto promise to scrap this so-called sport entirely, especially as they are issued personally by the Secretary of State.”
The League has written to the new Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, and the Minister for Defence Procurement, Maria Eagle, to remind them of the pressing deadline for action.
Similarly, the charity has also written to Steve Reed, Secretary for State for the Environment, to alert him about the issue.
Chris added: “The time for change is now, and this would be a crucial first step in Labour properly ending hunting for good and standing by their pre- and post-election promises to strengthen the Hunting Act by closing its many loopholes as well as outlawing trail hunting. We would also welcome custodial sentences for those who are determined to continue chasing and killing wild mammals in our countryside just for fun.”
The League’s campaign to end hunting on MOD land gained huge momentum in 2022 when the then Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, unilaterally ripped up an agreement between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the League to share information on where and when military hunts would be operating so they could be monitored.
It later emerged through multiple Freedom of Information requests and a final ruling by the ombudsman that Mr Wallace had no grounds to tear up the agreement.
He has subsequently taken up a position on the board of the British Sports Hounds Association – hunting’s governing body.
Chris said: “For too long the MOD has seemingly been used as a pawn in one man’s desire to appease the hunting lobby. It’s time for clarity, it’s time for action, and it’s time for change.”
Ends
Notes to editors
For media enquiries or interview requests please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 01483 524250 or email pressoffice@league.org.uk
Copies of our Freedom of Information correspondence are available upon request.
The League Against Cruel Sports is Britain's leading animal charity that works to stop animals being persecuted, abused and killed for sport. The League was instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act 2004 and the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021.
We carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties. We work to change attitudes and behaviour through education and manage wildlife reserves to protect wildlife. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).