Outfoxing the ban
Sir: Your editorial (‘Fox news’, 4 September) rightly welcomes Tony Blair’s admission that the Hunting Act was ‘a fatal mistake’ as does everyone who hunts, although there is a certain frustration that he missed the clear opportunity to adopt compromise proposals that were available to him right up to the end of the parliamentary process.
As far as the current government is concerned, I am not certain that you are being entirely fair. A free vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act followed by a government bill is not just a Conservative party commitment, it is now part of the coalition programme. Even those, like myself, who are ardent supporters of repeal could not expect this issue to be at the top of the new government’s agenda. We do, however, expect that commitment to be delivered during this parliament. When it is, all MPs of all parties need to give the issue proper consideration, as Tony Blair eventually did, rather than engaging once again in tribal politics.
If they take time to consider the proposals for the regulation of post-repeal hunting and how the Hunting Act fails in terms of civil liberties, animal welfare and simple common sense, then I am confident that the vote will be won.
Kate Hoey MP
Chair, Countryside Alliance
Sir: I too was surprised by Tony Blair’s reappraisal of the fox-hunting ban. However, I would take issue with your exhortation to David Cameron to attempt to repeal it. The fact is that the legislation introducing the ban was so masterfully badly (well?) drawn up that it had the effect of appeasing the sandalistas while allowing the status quo ante to remain in place for those who hunt — pragmatically the best of all possible worlds.
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