Why Fox-Hunting Matters

Members of the Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hunt. Photo: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images.

And so it begins. As a traditionalist when it comes to these matters, I think it best that parties wait until they win an election before they water down or abandon their promises. Apparently, however, that’s an old-fashioned view these days. Despite repeated promises that there would be a government-sponsored bill to repeal the Hunting Act, it seems that Dave’s Conservatives are preparing to abandon that commitment and leave the matter to a Private Members’ Bill. According to Melissa Kite’s Telegraph report:

The shadow cabinet member in charge of hunting last night confirmed that the party was considering the move. Nick Herbert, the shadow environment secretary, said: “We are working up various options about how we will do repeal. “We will give time for a vote on repeal but we have also said we don’t intend to waste parliamentary time on this.