League welcomes Labour’s commitment to ban trail hunting

National animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports welcomes the manifesto commitment from the Labour Party to strengthen fox hunting laws by banning trail hunting, which has been exposed as a “smokescreen” for old fashioned illegal fox hunting. 

However, the League urges whichever party forms the next government to avoid delays in amending current legislation and also close the many other loopholes in the Hunting Act. The League also calls for custodial sentences to be introduced for those who would chase and harm animals for entertainment.  

Chris Luffingham, acting chief executive of the League said: 

“This manifesto commitment from the Labour Party to end trail hunting is very welcome news for persecuted animals still being chased and killed by hunts across England and Wales as if it had  never been banned. 

“Labour has recognised that the vast majority of people agree it’s time for change and to end fox hunting and the scourge of other hunting with dogs for good.  

“However, if Labour wins the election, it is imperative they prioritise this legislation – not only banning trail hunting but also closing the Hunting Act’s many other loopholes - to ensure illegal hunting can be properly policed and those who persist in killing animals for fun properly punished.” 

Strengthening the Hunting Act is a popular policy among voters across Britain, with recent polling commissioned by the League and carried out by FindOutNow and Electoral Calculus showing that 76 percent of the public, including 85 percent of Labour voters, back the League’s calls to strengthen the Hunting Act. 

Old fashioned fox hunting remains prolific across England and Wales, with the League aware of hundreds of eyewitness reports of suspected illegal hunting in the last season alone. Only strengthening the law can protect animals from being torn apart by hunt hounds and end the havoc and antisocial behaviours hunts wreak on rural communities. 

Chris added: 

“Trail hunting is nothing but a smokescreen for the chasing and killing of wildlife which must be stopped. We urge all parties to adopt similarly strong proposals to tackle the scourge of illegal hunting. The current law is not working and must be strengthened.”