Will Sir Keir Starmer go further on the Hunting Act than Tony Blair did? While the passing of the legislation in 2004 marked a significant moment in the history of wildlife protection, it was flawed. This wasn’t immediately realised: at the time, many believed that the move by the Labour government would finally bring an end to fox hunting in the British countryside.
But Prime Minister Blair was far from enthusiastic about banning fox hunting, thanks to his fears the issue would generate a growing rift between the Labour party and rural voters. In recent months Lord Mandelson has indicated that Blair felt under pressure to act on this issue, partly due to a significant donation to the Labour Party in 1997 from a leading animal rights campaigner.
Blair’s less than enthusiastic support for the Hunting Act has resulted in the legislation having more holes than a Swiss cheese.
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