What makes a former cabinet minister with almost no personal experience of trail-hunting take up its cause? H&H hunting editor Catherine Austen explains all...

“It’s our way of life,” says Sir Ben Wallace. “The rural communities are under a whole range of assaults and at the heart of it, we survive as communities because we tolerate each other.

“That’s the difference between us and the ‘London bubble’ – we don’t all shoot and we don’t all hunt, and we don’t all play football and we don’t all play rugby, but we have always accepted each other’s pastimes and how other people live.

“It is fundamental to the freedom that I think is so important to this country.”

That is the essence of this distinguished former cabinet minister’s answer when asked why he is chairing Future for Hunting, the joint initiative between the British Hound Sports Association and the Countryside Alliance, to oppose the current Government’s manifesto commitment to ban trail-hunting.

There are, after all, a great many other things after 19 years as an MP and a long, highly respected tenure as Secretary of State for Defence he could be doing that would be much more attractive and much less controversial.

But Sir Ben is passionate about rural Britain and the quirks and variety of our countryside, and believes that if he can help see off this singularly illiberal and ill-thought-out attack on its people and their pastimes, then he should.

“After this, it’ll be shooting and after shooting, it’ll be racing,” he says. “I think it’s really about a line in the sand and I’m just not prepared to abandon a whole group of people, some of whom I know very well, and run for the hills.”

Sir Ben Wallace: “A man of the countryside”

Sir Ben says he has probably only been hunting on a horse a handful of times – he did beagle at Millfield School and at Sandhurst – but he was brought up in the village of Ditcheat.

This village in the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale country is where Paul Nicholls trains, is home to the Barber and Cobden families, and he and his sister were taught to ride by former Heythrop master and huntsman Charles Frampton’s mother.

He married into a Cheshire hunting family and has plenty of friends who hunt all across the country.

He’s a man of the countryside whose home, when he’s not in London or whizzing about the world, is in Cumbria, home of the Fell packs and his local hunt, the Vale of Lune Harriers.

After all, we have a surfeit of hunting knowledge between those fighting for our future – we don’t need that from Sir Ben; we need political acumen, experience and contacts.

He says: “I’m not trying to be the face of this campaign. What matters is that I use my political experience and whatever capital I have by going to see members of the Government and saying, ‘Do you really want this fight? This will be messy – do you really want it?’”

We are about two-thirds of the way through the consultation period that the Government announced on 26 March and which ends on 18 June.

Future for Hunting is pumping out communications to hunting communities, asking them to write to their MPs, to respond in various different ways to the consultation process, while submitting formal and detailed responses on our behalf.

Meetings are being held with key political figures, such as animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman, and funds are being raised for media campaigns and legal work.

“The Government don’t know how to ban a legitimate sport”

What happens when the consultation period ends?

“So the Government made its pledge to ban trail-hunting. What is absolutely clear is they don’t know how,” he says. “They don’t know how to ban a sport that is perfectly legitimate and which came out of their own Act [the Hunting Act 2004]. I think we have to persuade the Government now.”

He explains that sometimes governments know what they want to do once the consultation process is over, and act immediately.

“But also governments can use consultations to say, ‘This is all a bit difficult; we’ll push it into the long grass – this is easier said than done.’ That’s why governments don’t always fulfil their manifesto commitments – because it’s much harder than they thought when they were in opposition.

“It could be that at the end of this consultation, they don’t come back with anything for a year. It could be that it stalls if Keir Starmer falls under the political bus, they have a new leader, things freeze and priorities change. It could be that nothing happens at all – but it is much more likely that this Government is going to try to find some red meat to throw to the back benches, and this could be it.

“We’ll see what happens, but what’s really important is that the rural community says loud and clear to the 50 Labour MPs in rural seats that this shouldn’t be their priority right now. ‘You want to ban perfectly legitimate trail-hunting? You don’t seem to want to fix rural poverty, rural transport for schools, rural crime, pot holes… Is trail-hunting really your top priority right now?’”

Bringing the countryside together

Desperate as the hunting community is for some clarity about its fate, we’ve got to be patient, do what we are asked, reply to the consultation, lobby MPs and, importantly, unify as members of the countryside.

“We’ve got to bring the countryside together – it hasn’t always been easy in the past to get the major rural organisations to come together and be stronger in speaking out on a whole load of policy initiatives that this Government has, whether it is hunting, regulation on shooting, farm subsidies, inheritance tax and so on.

“We have to show the Government there is real political risk in what they are doing. If you view this as another attack on Britain’s identity, there’s a lot of jeopardy within Labour heartlands in that. What Jeremy Corbyn got so wrong is that outside of the London bubble, most Labour voters are deeply patriotic.

“And the other part of it is that rural people are predominantly the most law-abiding part of society, but we are now seeing a form of two-tier policing that when I was a security minister, we wouldn’t and shouldn’t have tolerated. There have been numerous failed prosecutions – there was one recently where the judge not only castigated the police, but also criticised them for falsification of evidence.

“Masked-up saboteurs – convicted bombers, people with ABH and GBH convictions – are aggressively bullying people on hunts and out in rural communities without being told to unmask. Whose side is the Government on? It’s an affront to our decency and our values. Policing should be without fear or favour.”

“We stand together or hang together,” says Sir Ben Wallace

There is a lot going on behind the scenes that cannot, publicly, be explained in detail; playing poker and telling your opposition exactly what cards you hold would be pretty stupid. This is also not the time to rake over the coals of the past regarding former strategies or in-fighting within the hunting community itself.

“I know how the Government works and, after many years of representing people in North Lancashire, I know that rural communities are being left behind. So I bring that [as Future for Hunting chairman], but I also don’t have favourites. I’m not sitting here with a load of history of one side of the argument [between factions in the sport] or fighting for one group within it. I’m only interested in preserving this for our grandchildren, in preserving the infrastructure.

“This Government isn’t going anywhere for three, four years, maybe. It might have a different prime minister, but I served five prime ministers as a minister.

“The reality is that at the last general election, the party with the manifesto commitment to ban trail-hunting got elected with a huge number of MPs. I can’t change that – none of us can. What we can try to do is to make sure the Government sees that this isn’t something it wants to have a big, ugly fight about. We’ve got to get to the next election – it’s as simple as that.”

Sir Ben comes across well. He is frank, direct, down-to-earth and engaging. He clearly has the appetite for this political battle and the ability to lead. If he can bring all the various countryside factions – the NFU, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, racing, those that represent the horsey community – together to oppose a trail-hunting ban because of a wider, pressing concern about how rural issues are treated, then we have real power to make the Government actually listen to us.

“We stand together or hang together,” he says, and he’s right.

• To stay up to date with all the latest news on the Government’s consultation on how to ban trail-hunting, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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THE fight for the country’s liberty and livelihood continues, 20 years after the march of that name, a march no one who attended will ever forget.

This was the message at a parliamentary reception hosted by Greg Smith MP and Lord Herbert of South Downs, Countryside Alliance chairman, held on 6 September to mark the anniversary, and “to remind ourselves of what that march was all about”.

Hundreds of thousands of people poured into London for the Liberty and Livelihood March in September 2002, many of whom had never visited the capital before.

“The Alliance was set up in the wake of that march, by brilliant people, simply to give the countryside a voice,” Lord Herbert said. “There was very strong feeling, particularly because of the hunting bill, but also because of many policies that country people never felt they had a voice in; that the views of those who live in the countryside were being dismissed. After hundreds of thousands of people had marched on the streets of Westminster, no one could say we were a small voice.”

Lord Herbert recalled the “extraordinary sense of solidarity”, and the presence of people from all walks of life, all political persuasions, “united by one simple thing; the love of the countryside and, fundamentally, freedom – in the end, it was a march for freedom.”

Lord Herbert added that “the battleground” has changed, as have the threats, but there are also those in both Houses of Parliament fighting on the countryside’s behalf, as well as the Alliance, which is “needed now as much as ever”.

Mr Smith said he is optimistic about the future; he said he asked the candidates for the Prime Minister’s job if they could “guarantee no silly buggers on the rural way of life”, and that Liz Truss’s answer was “the most robust”, adding: “It gave me great confidence that the countryside’s way of life is safe in our new Prime Minister’s hands.”

Countryside Alliance president Baroness Mallalieu said: “Anyone who was there on the march will never forget it.”

She also cited the Hyde Park rally five years before, citing one attendee who said, “I went in feeling small and came out feeling 10 feet tall because I realised we weren’t alone in our relatively isolated rural communities.”

“I remember Michael Howard and Michael Heseltine saying afterwards ‘For the first time, I know why we won the war,’” she said. “People from every background marching together for something we really cared about.”

She added that parliamentarians have since been “fighting a steady battle”, but that the effects of the Hunting Act are being seen.

“At the time, Labour had over 100 rural seats,” she said. “It’s now 17. It’s not possible to win a substantial majority without support from the rural communities.

“Full credit to those in parliament brave enough to stand up and put the case for our communities, and keeping our way of life going. I hope the new PM will be sympathetic, but also that there will be politicians brave enough to say, ‘We got this one wrong.’ Because they did.”

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As the Hunting Act passes its 15th anniversary, H&H investigates how hunts are using social media to promote the role they play in the countryside and rural communities, alongside celebrating their hounds, horses and way of life

Hunting is not only surviving, but thriving 15 years after the ban — as packs ensure they are as relevant as ever in today’s society.

The Hunting Act came into force in February 2005. In 2020, hundreds of hunts continue to operate within the law, with thousands of people supporting them.

And packs are taking action to spread positive messages by being more active on social media, to promote their community activities and help educate those who may not understand hunting.

“We are encouraging hunts and the hunting fraternity to embrace social media and promote the many aspects of hunting life,” Countryside Alliance head of hunting Polly Portwin told H&H.

“There are large numbers of the digital generation who want to share their hunting experiences online. Social media platforms offer the perfect opportunity to do this while also providing an educational aspect for those who could be mistaken for otherwise thinking that hunting is just about people galloping about the countryside on horses.

“Anybody with a social media account can play their part in the positive promotion of hunting by following hunt accounts and engaging with posts where appropriate.”

The Hunting Office emailed all registered hunts asking them each to appoint a social media representative, to ensure a positive message is spread.

“This initiative is about positive social media,” the office said. “Posts should focus on the role all hunts play in the countryside and rural communities, as well celebrate the hounds, horses and way of life we cherish.”

Jo Wall, the South Shropshire’s social media administrator, is active on Facebook and Instagram, sharing information to those who are “on the fence” about hunting.

“What I feel very strongly we should be, and are, doing is putting out positive stuff — if we don’t, all these people will see is negativity about hunting,” she told H&H.

“It’s not people’s fault if they haven’t got experience of hunting, but we need to show them what it’s all about.”

Jo says she enjoys the work, and has had a great deal of positive feedback, as well as the occasional negative comment. She said she hopes the next step will be more people sharing hunts’ positive posts, so more neutral observers can be educated.

“It’s about hearts and minds,” she said. “We’re normalising what we do, getting out of our huddles. Demonstrating that it’s ‘normal’ people who go hunting, not this antis’ image of people who are all fantastically wealthy. That’s the kind of thing we need to get the average member of the public to realise.”

On the hunt’s Facebook page on the anniversary of the ban, Jo wrote: “The countryside community remains resolute; not one hunt has closed because of the Hunting Act, and we are determined that this will remain the case. We will continue to provide employment for thousands of people, from hunt staff, to farriers, tack shops, saddlers, agricultural merchants and many more. We will continue to provide services to farmers, including collecting dead stock, fencing and gate repairs. We will continue to organise social events that knit our community together, and to raise money for charities that are close to our hearts. We will continue to resist the tide of false information and lies disseminated by our opponents.”

Countryside Alliance CEO Tim Bonner added: “The intention of the Hunting Act was to frustrate rural communities yet today, hundreds of registered hunts continue to operate across the UK and enjoy support from a wide range of people. Registered hunts continue to work within the law and within their communities, contributing to charities and local action projects including conservation and litter-picking.

“There were never any valid arguments for banning hunting and the Hunting Act is almost unique in that it brings no benefits. Not to the countryside, not to rural communities, not to wildlife and not even to those who spent so long promoting it.”

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Essex county councillors have voted against a motion calling for trail-hunting to be banned on council-owned land, after a “pointless and divisive” debate.

At a full council meeting yesterday (14 May) councillors voted down Lee Scordis’s motion to ban trail-hunting and exercising hounds on the public land.

As he proposed the motion, “This council notes that the hunting of wild animals with dogs is illegal under the terms of the Hunting Act 2004, except where an exemption applies. This council therefore calls upon the cabinet not to allow any future trail-hunting and exercising of packs of foxhounds on Essex County Council land”, Cllr Scordis told colleagues trail-hunting is often used as a “guise to flout the law”.

The Labour councillor said in the most recent season, the League Against Cruel Sports had “had 282 reports of illegal hunting”, and that hunting of foxes had “rightly been banned”.

He also claimed 85% of the UK and 81% of people in rural areas are against foxhunting, although he did not cite the sources of these figures, and said he had been the victim of online abuse since he posted his motion on his Facebook page.

“I’ve been trolled by people from all over the UK, who have told others to complain about me to the council for ridiculous reasons,” he said. “I’ve been accused of being prejudiced and a bigot, by people who don’t know me. I’ve been called a ‘lefty whinger’ and: ‘keep your geeky snout out of business that doesn’t concern you’.

“Can I ask you to stand with the majority in the UK and support me in tightening the law?”

But in the debate, although Labour group leader Ivan Henderson backed Cllr Scordis, other speakers did not. Independent councillor Kerry Smith said the motion was “legally unsound”, as it “seeks to indirectly remove the right of the common man to use public rights of way”, while independent Jo Beavis pointed out that no huntsman in Essex has ever been questioned by police over illegal hunting issues, and that huntsmen were confused by the bringing of the “entirely illogical motion”, which was brought “without any serious reasons”.

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Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner said: “We are very pleased the council voted against a motion to ban the legal activities of trail-hunting and hound exercise. It is a great shame that councillors had to waste time on such a pointless and divisive debate, but we are very grateful that they rejected the proposal.

“Hunts in Essex have been hunting an artificial scent perfectly legally since the Hunting Act came into force in 2005. There are at least eight packs of hounds operating in the county yet none has ever been charged with a hunting offence, let alone convicted of one, so the suggestion that they are not hunting lawfully is completely unfounded.

“Hunting continues to attract support across Essex as people continue to enjoy following and watching hounds working in the countryside.”

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A vote on whether trail-hunting should be banned on a local authority’s land is set to be held this week.

Councillor Lee Scordis, of Essex County Council, is proposing the motion at the full council meeting tomorrow (14 May).

The Countryside Alliance (CA) is urging people in Essex to contact their ward councillors and ask them to oppose the “draconian” motion.

Trail-hunting, where hounds follow a laid scent, is legal under the Hunting Act (2004).

But Cllr Scordis, seconded by Cllr Allan Davies, is calling for a ban on “any future trail hunting and exercising of packs of foxhounds on Essex County Council land”.

Cllr Scordis told H&H he is concerned trail-hunting is being used as a cover for illegal hunting and that he has received a “significant amount of abuse” from pro-hunting supporters since proposing the motion.

“We are concerned that trail hunting is being used as a guise by a minority to hunt foxes and hares,” he said.

“We have no issue with drag hunting. This is only a ban on county council land and will hopefully send a strong message that the rules need tightening up.”

Polly Portwin, head of hunting at the CA, told H&H there is “no justification for this motion other than pure prejudice”.

“There have been no prosecutions of hunts for illegal hunting in Essex since the Hunting Act was enforced, nor is there any evidence to suggest that Essex hunts break the law,” she said.

“It is ironic that it was the Labour Party, during the passage of the Hunting Act, that argued trail-hunting was a viable alternative to traditional forms of hunting, yet this Labour councillor is proposing to ban a perfectly legal activity that is enjoyed by thousands of Essex residents.”

Article continues below…

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In a message to CA members, Tim Bonner stressed the importance of people lobbying their councillors after a recent vote to ban trail hunting on Nottinghamshire County Council land was won by one vote.

“We want to ensure that Essex county councillors fully understand the strength of feeling and support for these legal activities in order for them to vote against it, and therefore we urge you to contact your local councillor immediately asking them to oppose this motion,” he said.

He added suggested wording could include pointing out that the motion is “entirely illogical”.

“Trail-hunting and hound exercising are no different to any other legal activity like dog walking or drag hunting,” he said.

“To seek to ban lawful recreational activities on council land is draconian and unnecessary.

“No one, including the council, can give permission for an unlawful activity, without themselves committing an offence, and no council should be banning lawful activities, without very serious reasons and the motion provides no justification for the action being proposed.

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Three members of the Grove and Rufford have been acquitted of hunting convictions on appeal.

The trio were convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs last year, but were acquitted on appeal at Nottingham Crown Court on 15 March.

The case collapsed after it was revealed the prosecution failed to show 50 photographs containing clear evidence supporting the defendants’ case that they were all hunting legally.

Paul Larby, 58, Peter White, 57, and Jane Wright, 63, of the Grove and Rufford Hunt denied alleged offences made under the Hunting Act 2004 at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court in March 2017.

They were found guilty by magistrates at the time and fined — but have now been acquitted.

Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner said the organisation is “very pleased” about the acquittals.

“But this has been a long, stressful and expensive process which should never have happened,” he added.

“If all the evidence had been available from the start it is unlikely that there would have even been a prosecution, and there would certainly never have been convictions in the magistrates’ court.

“The police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) need to be extremely careful in hunting cases that the views of witnesses and others involved in investigations do not unduly influence prosecutions and decisions to prosecute.”

In a separate case, a Portman huntsman was found not guilty of offences under the Hunting Act at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 14 March.

Joint-master Evo Shirley faced charges of illegal hunting brought by the CPS relating to hunting activity on 8 March 2017.

The case was heard on 12 and 13 February, with magistrates’ delivering their verdict on 14 March.

“This is another case in which there was ample evidence that the hunt was operating legally,” said Mr Bonner.

“The police and CPS need to consider very carefully any ‘evidence’ supplied by anti-hunting activists who have a vested interest in vilifying members of the hunting community.

“This is another example of thousands of pounds being wasted in court and police time.”

Data from the Ministry of Justice from 2005 to 2016 shows 454 people have been convicted of offences under the Hunting Act.

Of these, only 27 were involved with registered hunts and more than 94% of Hunting Act convictions did not involve hunts.

There have been 35 completed cases under the Hunting Act involving hunts registered with the Council of Hunting Associations until October 2017. A total of 20 of these failed, with seven being dropped before trial and 13 resulting in the acquittal of all defendants.

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Three hunt members are considering an appeal after being found guilty of illegal hunting.

The Grove and Rufford Hunt members — who denied the charges — are seeking legal advice and are considering appealing the decision to a higher court.

The three-day trial at Mansfield Magistrates Court concluded today (Tuesday, 14 March).

This is the first time in more than two years that there has been a successful prosecution of a registered hunt under the 2004 Hunting Act.

Paul Larby, 57, was ordered to pay total costs of £1,848, including a fine of £800; Peter White, 57, was ordered to pay £853, including a £550 fine; and Jane Wright, 63, £448, including a fine of £180. The alleged incident took place on 30 January 2016 and the trio, who are all from Nottinghamshire, pleaded not guilty to offences under the Act.

Speaking after the trial had concluded, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said the organisation is “disappointed by the verdict”.

“These three individuals were of impeccable character and we believe that the evidence showed they were trail-hunting within the law,” he said.

“The activity is legal and they were aware that they were being photographed and filmed throughout the day.

“They had nothing to hide and were acting lawfully within the Hunting Act legislation.

“They will now take legal advice and may very well appeal the decision at a higher court.”

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Dear Mum and Dad,

I hope this finds you well. I am sorry to say but fighting has now intensified and increases week on week. This past weekend was the 12th anniversary of the new beginning and the Hunting Act of 2004 — the reason why we are here.

As the years rush by, it seems like only yesterday that we were witnessing the most unjust law ever passed and driven through the political process. The biggest peacetime demonstration in London, with over 400,000 of us marching to be heard, had no effect on their bigoted politics. You will remember the 700 hours of parliamentary time, the Lord Burns report they ignored, and, just when it looked like we had won the argument peacefully, and against his own better judgement, Prime Minister Blair evoked the Parliamentary Act. Only seven bills have become acts under this procedure in our country’s history.

So here I am 12 years on from that most illiberal of acts going into law. Casualties remain light, with no prosecutions under the act since 2015. We still weep witnessing a professional huntsman “going over the top” as they are usually replaced by enthusiastic amateurs who do not know what it was like before the war began.

In the north, our comrades and allies carry on with fighting kept to a minimum. It is down here in the south, and the south-east in particular, that sees the worst of it. Our trench is under relentless targeting from the enemy.

They are now employing new dirty tricks, which include social media trolling, and emailing and telephoning horrible threats to venues that support our cause. We suffer intimidation, harassment, aggravated trespass, verbal abuse, stalking — they appear outside our trench every Saturday and stalk our platoon — and we feel humiliated. It appears little can be done to stop it.

As you know, since the ban we have led the way regarding hunting within the law. We soon accepted that the only way forward was for us to simulate a day’s hunting as it used to be for our members and supporters to enjoy. We are, after all, in the entertainment business. So we indulge in a lawful activity whereby we lay trails across open country, in woodland and in hedgerows and ditches, all on land we have been invited to cross.

But our opponents continue to ignore the rules of engagement and monitor us not from public highways or footpaths but by trespassing and ignoring the law. They are camouflaged so their identities remain hidden; they are ashamed of their way of fighting this war. We, conversely, wear our red coats and uniforms with the utmost pride.

This is a bloody war on the front line and our spirits can dip when comrades in other parts of the country say, “stop the fighting and let the act remain”. We can’t do that and we will never give in. We will continue to fight with our last breath for what we in our community believe in and know is right.

It is estimated that the enemy spent £30m on pushing through the Hunting Act, and they have spent £0 on proving that it has had any benefit at all. The reason for that, of course, is that it has in fact been a total waste of police time, the courts’ time and public money — and not one fox is better off as a result of it.

We see no signal from our leaders that anything will change soon and so we fight on. And what, I hear you say, from the glorious leader that was Tony Blair? “On balance I feel that we shouldn’t have banned it,” he has admitted.

We will continue on and absorb and deflect any attacks on our comrades in the shooting, fishing and racing worlds as we have for decades now.

Some good news to end with: I have some well-deserved leave coming up in March and can’t wait to see you all. Looking forward to some fruit cake, tea and whisky mac — we don’t get much of that on the front line!

My love,

RG, MFH, OSB&WKH

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 March 2017

H&H takes a look at some of your photographs from Boxing Day meets held across the country that were supported by over a quarter of a million people https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/wp-admin/profile.php

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Over a quarter of a million people turned out to attend Boxing Day meets across the country

More than a quarter of a million people turned out to show their support for hunting at Boxing Day meets around the country yesterday (26 December), according to figures released by the Countryside Alliance (CA).

On one of the biggest days of the year for hunting, more than 300 packs in the UK held their traditional Boxing Day meets in towns, pubs or in areas where large numbers of people could congregate safely.

The Cottesmore Hunt’s annual meet that had been moved out of Oakham town centre due to health and safety concerns, proved to be “very well supported in the new venue of a large car park kindly provided by Rutland County Council.”

One of the largest turnouts of the day was for the Heythrop Hunt’s annual meet in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, where more than 6,000 people attended to see hounds in the Square.

The Glamorgan Hunt in south Wales saw people lining Cowbridge High Street as they left the meet to cheers and applause, scenes that were replicated across the country.

Pictured above is the Southdown and Eridge Hunt that met in Lewes, East Sussex (photograph courtesy of www.arwphotography.co.uk).

The Holcombe Harriers met in Anglezark, near Bolton, Lancs where over 100 people were mounted and in excess of 2,000 people supported on foot.

Joint-master Sue Simmons said: “We were delighted to be able to parade our hounds in this traditional meet on Boxing Day and for so many people to be there to show their appreciation of country sports.”

Although there were no cancellations due to frost or snow — as would usually be expected at this time of year — some meets were affected by above average rainfall and flooding that had taken place across the country.

The Hunting Act 2004 came into force in February 2005 however the CA and the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) continue to fight for repeal of the Act.

A spokesperson for the CA told H&H: “The Hunting Act has failed — not one hunt has been prosecuted in the last year and more than 94% of those convicted under the Act have not been related to activities of registered hunts, they have been for poaching or casual hunting offences.”

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There are now no registered hunts with Hunting Act cases outstanding against them after the final case collapsed today (Thursday 3 December).

A case against the Lamerton Hunt collapsed three days into a scheduled 10-day trial at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court, when private prosecutors, the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), withdrew all evidence.

Yesterday (Wednesday, 2 December) the court sought confirmation from absent LACS acting chief executive Rachel Newman, a qualified solicitor, that she had advised expert witness Professor Stephen Harris not to disclose a close personal relationship between himself and LACS head of operations Paul Tillsley.

Professor Harris had also been accused of embellishing his experience of hunting while giving evidence. The LACS this morning withdrew all charges.

In a private prosecution, the LACS had summoned six members of the Lamerton Hunt in West Devon to face allegations of illegal hunting and pursued them through the courts for more than 18 months after Devon and Cornwall Police correctly ruled that they had no case to answer.

“We were confident from the start that we had done nothing wrong and that all our hunting was legal, but our names and the allegations that the LACS were making were all over the local papers,” said David Lewis, huntsman of the Lamerton Hunt.

“The whole thing seemed to go on forever and whilst we are happy it is now all over it was not a pleasant experience.”

The defendants were represented by barrister Peter Glenser and solicitor Jamie Foster.

The Countryside Alliance’s Tim Bonner added: “This appalling case raises a series of fundamental questions about the abuse of the criminal justice system by vindictive private prosecutors. LACS spent more than a £100,000 of charitable funds on a case that the police had correctly judged simply did not stand up. In desperation it has then sought to present as independent an expert witness who was clearly deeply prejudiced against the defendants.

“LACS sought to corrupt the criminal justice system and use it to harass six innocent people over an 18-month period. Questions need to be asked about this abuse at the highest levels.”

This was the last outstanding case from the 2013/14 season, while there were no prosecutions in the 2014/15 season.

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The failure of the present government to pass the sensible amendments to the current hunting legislation is lamentable.

Once again, common sense has become a casualty of Westminster politics. Our position is pretty wretched, with repeal looking highly unlikely in the short term. Ten years have passed since the Hunting Act; it is difficult to see it being any more likely with the passage time.

However there is a glimmer of hope in the unlikely guise of the new (old) Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. “Can it be?” I hear you cry, “that the anti-monarchist, anti-capitalist, anti-Nato and anti-defence of the realm Jezza is not only a fan of Hamas and the Russkies, but also a field sports supporter?”

Well… no. I think it’s highly unlikely. Can’t really picture him in plus fours, Purdey in hand, like Harold Macmillan or indeed, in a silk hat waiting with anticipation at the infamous covert Parsons Thorns, like Churchill.

However, the likelihood is that the Labour Party has just elected a chap to lead Her Majesty’s loyal opposition who will ensure they remain just that for some considerable time.

That leaves us with the Conservatives, from whom we receive the most support. It also leaves five, maybe 10, years to do something about the intolerable pressure under which many hunt servants have to work.

First, the sensible amendments proposed by the government need to be repackaged, so they can be seen to be just that. Somehow we allow the press to portray them as “a relaxing of the ban”, which they most certainly and regrettably are not.

They are, though, a sensible way of helping wildlife management at no expense to the tax payer. Wavering MPs need proper education and reassurance.

I am told that David Cameron is supportive of the countryside and understands our predicament. Given that he has signalled his intention to step down, it is worth noting that when it comes to hunting, it is highly unlikely that the next prime minister will give a flying fig.

Sometime soon is probably the last realistic opportunity to achieve a result. It is not the time to drop the bridle — now is the time to pick up the whip and use your full allowance.

Eager anticipation

Autumn hunting has, as usual, been a frenzied time. Most huntsmen, I imagine, need little persuasion to do the extra days required at this time of year; wholehearted devotion to their job is reason enough.

However, unlike times past, when the local MFH had little to do but run their hunt country efficiently, now, almost without exception, people taking on official roles in the hunt have jobs to do and bills to pay.

It would be easy to take for granted the extra effort required, but rest assured it is worth it.

Apart from the obvious benefits for hounds and important preparation for the imminent open season, it is essential to cover the whole of your country and fly the flag even in the least fashionable areas, and autumn is a good time to do it.

A recent television series Titchmarsh on Capability Brown featured Belvoir Estate and the efforts to complete plans made by Capability Brown for the fifth Duke.

Now, during the stewardship of the 11th Duke, the transformation is all but complete.

The Estate has undergone something of a renaissance during recent years, of the sort achieved only by single-minded determination. The season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” sees the park at its best, which, combined with the anticipation of the season to come, makes autumn my favourite time of year.

Hardly a day goes by when I don’t appreciate my good fortune in occupying the position I do.

There is, naturally, a book by Her Grace the Duchess of Rutland to accompany the series. The launch of said tome took place in London recently and was by all accounts a grand affair.

There were gun dogs, tweed clad keepers — even a horse. And, representing the hunt, our second whipper-in — he doesn’t get out much and could barely conceal his excitement for the trip.

We sent two hounds to look after him and they kept him on a lead at all times. He was also chaperoned by the Ladies Violet, Alice and Eliza Manners who are, I am told, more used to the attentions of the national press and society pages than the whipper-in is. It has been cheering to see all three shun for a time the bright lights to appear in the hunting field this season.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 5 November 2015

Proposals to vary the terms of exempt hunting within the Hunting Act 2004 were not an “unexpected use of the powers” of the Defra Secretary of State, a report has found.

Suggested amendments to the act were due to be debated by MPs in July.

However, they were shelved after Scottish National Party MPs reversed their previous decision not to vote on legislation that does not affect Scotland.

The Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI), made up of a cross section of MPs and Peers, revealed its report on 23 October and the findings have been welcomed by the Countryside Alliance.

Statutory Instruments are used to amend, update or enforce existing laws.

The JCSI has the responsibility to report on all statutory instruments that come before Parliament to ensure that amendments made this way are a correct use of ministerial powers.

The report confirms that the statutory instrument is a legitimate use of the Secretary of State’s powers to alter exemptions to the ban to allow pest control.

The changes would have included removing the “two dog” limit and allowing the flushing and shooting of foxes using packs of hounds — providing it was “appropriate” for the terrain and carried out as “efficiently” as possible. These proposed changes would have brought England and Wales into line with the law in Scotland.

Traditional hunting would still have remained illegal as the requirement to shoot foxes as soon as possible after they have been found would have remained.

“The report from the joint committee confirms that the Secretary of State’s proposals were reasonable and sensible amendments to a bad law,” said Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance.

“Whilst this report will be little consolation to farmers, especially in the uplands, who are struggling to control the fox population and protect their livestock from predation, it does vindicate the Government’s attempt to respond to their legitimate concerns.

“The need for proper wildlife management legislation based on principle and evidence, rather than ignorance and bigotry, is as strong now as it ever has been.”

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Well, they say a week is a long time in politics and now we can add hunting to that statement.

“Hunting to return by back door,” they said. The free vote on the amendment to the Hunting Act 2004 was to bring English and Welsh law into line with Scotland. When Scotland passed the law in 2002, it was welcomed by our opponents. Flushing a fox to a gun or guns with hounds was considered a good way to manage the fox population and a sensible way forward.

Now, fully 14 years later and with no opposition to that law from the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), or anyone else, it has been as if the government has suggested something truly outrageous. After a lengthy “love-in with the SNP”, the Labour Party, Brian May and a very few activists convinced them to take part in the vote after a manifesto commitment that they would not vote on English laws.

With all 56 SNP MPs voting against the bill it would have left the outcome too close to call, therefore the government has postponed the vote. This would have been a starting point to full repeal, which I fully support.

Be assured this had nothing to do with hunting or animal welfare and everything to do with politics and the SNP seizing a cynical opportunity to give the government of the day a bloody nose.

Once again, the hunting community has been kicked around like a political football. I can’t imagine another minority group in our society who would have had to take the political beating that hunting has.

I took part in several interviews and debates and one stuck in my mind. BBC Radios Sussex and Surrey conducted a one-on-one debate between the LACS’ Tom Quinn and myself. Two things stood out. Tom Quinn suggested: “Eighty per cent of people wanted to see hunting remain banned.” Not true, and I would have thought that after the last general election, it’s a good thing LACS’ is resorting to opinion polls because it is clear they are not accurate. YouGov conducted a poll in February that stated 51% to 49% in hunting’s favour!

It totally depends on what question you are asking and of whom.

After the debate, a lady called in from Hastings to say that she thought hunting should remain as it is because “they are all toffs”. The presenter asked her: “You want hunting to remain banned because they are toffs?” She replied: “Yes.”

Well, we at the Old Surrey Burstow & West Kent are a broad church and we count among our supporters builders, plumbers, chimney sweeps, doctors, nurses, tree surgeons, farmers, City workers and people who work at Gatwick Airport. For my part, my mother was a groom and my father a salesman — hardly Rothschild lineage!

Crank up the PR machine

The hunting community needs to spend the time and money between now and any future vote — which the government has promised — on a PR exercise telling it how it is and explaining to the British public who we are, what we do and why we do it.

We must be proud of hunting and educate those who may not understand how it really is.

For example, there is in fact just one person who blows a hunting horn in each pack of foxhounds, which he or she does to keep control of hounds. It is not about several Hooray Henrys shouting tally-ho while galloping wildly across the countryside.

Many will be surprised at this, and they will have other preconceptions of hunting and those preconceptions will be wrong.

If we don’t embark on that now we may lose the next vote, whether the SNP is involved or not.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 23 July 2015

Three men, who were accused of being connected to the Ross Harriers, based in Herefordshire, have been convicted of illegal hunting under the Hunting Act 2004.

In October 2014 the trio were pulled over when the trailer they were towing had faulty lights. Upon inspection, the police found three dogs with facial scarring and a bag containing a live fox.

The men were arrested and when questioned claimed they had written permission for their activities but did not have the permission with them.

The men appeared in court on Friday 10 July.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “This piece of information was to be the key to their successful prosecution as the Hunting Act 2004 states that those legally hunting in such circumstances must have written permission on their person.”

Despite members of the Hunt Saboteurs Association claiming the three men were linked with the Ross Harriers, the hunt denies the allegations.

“These men were not acting for, nor had any formal links to the Ross Harriers hunt,” said the Countryside Alliance’s Tim Bonner.

“The hunt’s activities are entirely confined to those allowed by the Hunting Act and even before the ban would not have extended to foxes as they are were a harrier pack, that is to say they hunted hares.”

Earlier this month the RSPCA said it would no longer pursue those accused of illegal foxhunting through the courts.

This decision comes following a review by Stephen Wooler, former chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), after the charity was accused of wasting funds and donations by prosecuting hunters for political reasons.

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The RSPCA will no longer pursue those accused of illegal foxhunting through the courts.

This decision comes following a review by Stephen Wooler, former chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), after the charity was accused of wasting funds and donations by prosecuting hunters for political reasons.

The report, carried out last year, made 33 recommendations on the charity’s investigation and prosecution activity.

It advised that the RSPCA should continue its role as prosecuting body, but the organisation accepted it needed to adapt its approach to law enforcement.

One of the criticisms levelled at the RSPCA was the amount of money spent on prosecutions under the Hunting Act.

In 2012, the RSPCA spent £327,000 prosecuting the Heythrop Hunt, in Oxfordshire

David Bowles, of the RSPCA, said: “We have listened to Stephen Wooler and have acted on his recommendation to adopt a clear policy on how we deal with cases specifically against traditional hunts. We will still look into allegations, before passing the evidence to the police, who will be invited to complete the investigation before handing the case to the CPS.”

Tim Bonner, director of campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, said: “The RSPCA is in an extremely difficult position as a political campaigning organisation and as a prosecutor. We have long argued it makes it almost impossible for them to make objective decisions on prosecutions.”

The RSPCA’s only pending prosecution of a hunt was dropped on 18 March due to lack of evidence.

Will Bryer, master and huntsman of the Cattistock Hunt in Dorset, had been charged with one offence of hunting a fox with hounds.

The incident was alleged to have taken place on 2 December 2014. A hearing was due to take place at Weymouth Magistrates Court on 20 March.

However, the RSPCA wrote to Mr Bryer’s solicitor Jamie Foster, stating it would not be pursuing the prosecution as there is no evidence on which they could legitimately continue.

CA’s figures show that in 2013 — the last year the RSPCA carried out prosecutions of hunts before this case — 79% of the summonses issued by the RSPCA against hunt staff and supporters failed, costing more than £100,000 of tax payers’ money.

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The vote proposing amendments to the Hunting Act 2004 scheduled for Wednesday 15 July in the House of Commons has been shelved.

The dramatic move by the Government comes after it emerged last night (Monday, 13 July) that the Scottish National Party (SNP) was to vote against the proposals. Ever since the Conservative Party was elected as a ruling majority, there has been speculation over whether the SNPs would vote on this issue.

As recently as February, Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP, said: “The SNP have a longstanding position of not voting on matters that purely affect England — such as foxhunting south of the border, for example — and we stand by that.”

This position now appears to have been reversed with the SNP saying they would be voting against the proposals to remind “an arrogant UK government of just how slender their majority is”.

In light of this development, Tim Bonner, director of campaigns for the Countryside Alliance, said: “We were very confident of achieving a majority of English and Welsh MPs in tomorrow’s vote, but it is understandable that the Government wants to postpone the vote to deal with the constitutional issues the SNP’s decision raises. Quite clearly this has nothing to do with the amendments to the Hunting Act under discussion.

“It is quite extraordinary that the will of English and Welsh MPs cannot be expressed in Parliament. A clear majority of MPs supported the amendments and we fully support the Government’s actions.

“We feel confident of winning this vote once the issue of English votes for English laws has been put to bed.”

The proposed amendments being brought forward by the Secretary of State in the form of a Statutory Instrument (SI) were going to vary the terms of exempt hunting. It was suggested these would have offered significant improvements for farmers who would have been able to decide how they control vermin on their land.

The changes included removing the “two dog” limit and allowing the flushing and shooting of foxes using packs of hounds — providing it was “appropriate” for the terrain and carried out as “efficiently” as possible. These proposed changes would have brought England and Wales into line with the law in Scotland.

Traditional hunting would still have remained illegal as the requirement to shoot foxes as soon as possible after they have been found would have remained.

The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), organised a demonstration outside Parliament today (Tuesday, 14 July) to protest against the proposed changes, and are allegedly now calling for amendments to be made to the current laws in Scotland.

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The Conservative Government is planning a vote on making changes to the Hunting Act 2004.

Although no date has yet been confirmed, it is believed the vote is scheduled for Thursday 16 July.

The suggested changes would remove the two dog limit and permit the flushing and shooting of foxes using packs of hounds.

The Secretary of State for Defra has powers to vary the terms of exempt hunting by use of a Statutory Instrument (SI). An SI, such as that proposed to amend the Act, cannot be used to “defeat the purpose” of the original legislation and therefore traditional hunting would remain illegal.

If the vote is passed in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it would be implemented immediately, and would therefore affect hunting in the forthcoming season.

The proposed amendments to the Hunting Act in England and Wales would bring the law into line with Scotland.

At this stage, there is no discussion of a vote on repealing the Hunting Act, which still remains the aim of hunting organisations and supporters.

A spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance said: “This is a step forward and will mean that farmers and hunts will be able to use packs of hounds to find and shoot foxes. Traditional hunting will, though, remain illegal.

“These amendments will bring the law into line with Scotland and ensure that farmers are able to choose how to manage the fox population in the most effective and humane manner.

“We still believe that the Hunting Act needs to be scrapped, but in the circumstances these amendments meet the immediate needs of the rural community.

“These amendments will bring the law into line with Scotland and ensure that farmers are able to choose how to manage the fox population in the most effective and humane manner.

“There is solid support for hunting amongst MPs and we believe that there will be a majority for these logical, evidence-based changes.”

The Countryside Alliance is calling upon all hunting supporters to contact their MPs to make their views known on the subject and to support this amendment to the Act.

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The painfully eloquent words of an office-weary President Obama reacting to yet another mass shooting may convince the US gun lobby to concede to tighter legislation on gun ownership — a right laid down by the Founding Fathers. However, American sportsmen should have little to fear from restrictions designed to curtail the private armouries.

The chasseurs of the French Fifth Republic are equally protected by law, although anti-hunting groups are beginning to cause much Gallic beating of chests.

Instinctively, we Brits do not like too many laws, preferring to live according to shared values and abide by the simple law of the land with pride.

However, times have changed. European and North American cases have shown us that legislation is increasingly necessary, in part to guard against malicious litigation.

Some people argue that we don’t need a repeal of the Hunting Act. Leave it alone, they say, and don’t make a fuss. But these are the very same people who, right up to the day of the ban, boomed that hunting would never be outlawed.

Since the Hunting Act 2004 — the most controversial of Tony Blair’s 27,000 new laws — most hunting people have craved a repeal, unsure of whether the opportunity would ever arise.

Well, it has — with bells on.

Sadly, straight repeal would offer false hope for the future and leave us unnecessarily exposed to the whims of a future anti-hunting government, which could easily re-instate the ban. Hunting’s political elders need to strike a deal that will enshrine in law our ability to hunt, in a manner as near as possible to pre-Act, but protected from further tampering.

To the lay hunting person, this may not look attractive. It may, however, be the most acceptable option to a majority of MPs, most of whom have no interest in hunting beyond the tone of their constituency mail bag. In modern parlance, MPs are desperate for “closure” on this thorny issue.

The new state of affairs could permit hunting, while protecting masters, hunt staff and farmers against prosecution and safeguarding against animal cruelty. Considering the current situation, no true hunting person could disapprove.

Recent celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta have reminded us how the people’s interests can be better protected from bad governance. We know what we want to achieve and shouldn’t be afraid of this Parliament’s desire to permit, protect and safeguard.

Dangers of the puppy show

After the post-hunting point-to-point, hunter trial and team chase season closes, the focus falls back on the hounds, more specifically, the young hounds.

The puppy show is the highlight of the summer season, but it is fraught with danger and not just for the puppy walker who turned up in the same dress as the lady master. The day is full of elephant traps for master, huntsman, judge and spectator.

Our tea used to be organised telepathically, a system that had worked perfectly well for generations until one year, when someone obviously forgot to feed the mythical carrier pigeon. As the judges set about their important task, the tea tables looked alarmingly bare. Fortunately the 200 guests enjoying the show were largely oblivious to the mad supermarket dash. Since then Mrs Sallis has written to 50 bakers a month before the big day to avoid a similar near-calamity.

To be asked to judge a puppy show is a great honour — there are few greater. To fall asleep during the master’s lunch was not so honourable. When the same judge snoozed during the prize-giving, too, the masters were none too happy.

The judge’s speech is a minefield. Everyone needs to be thanked. Puppy walkers and hunt staff must be duly congratulated. Jokes must be selected with care (a little research on the audience is advisable). A young master must not be too blue for fear of a clip round the ear from the huntsman’s wife.

Huntsmen go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that hounds enter the showring in tip-top condition. Imagine the horror of one huntsman, a generation ago, who went in for lunch, happy that everything was ready, only to realise that the hounds weren’t actually singing. They were hunting alone with a glorious cry around the park woods — 35 couples, nicely up together, young entry and all.

The puppy show is a wonderful occasion for the whole hunt and for many, signifies the countdown to autumn hunting. If you get a front-row seat for the judging, make sure you aren’t too close to the fence. Doghounds have a nasty habit of stamping their territory, even the young ones.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 July 2015

The arguments against the Hunting Act 2004 are straightforward. There was never any justification for the ban in the first place and it was no more than a misplaced attack on the rural community by Labour MPs. It has done nothing for wild mammals or their welfare, and even Tony Blair has admitted it was one of his biggest mistakes.

There are many who are willing to voice their views on hunting from a position of total ignorance, but there is also a quiet army of us who know that the ban is wrong. That quiet army has a real commitment to hunting and to the countryside.

So much so that in 2002, more than 400,000 of us came from all over Britain to march on Westminster in opposition to the ban. Support for hunting is just as strong now.

Now, for the first time since the Hunting Act came into force in February 2005, we have a Government that has been elected with a manifesto commitment to a vote on the repeal the Hunting Act. We can be almost certain that ministers will bring forward proposals to lift the ban, but hunting has always been a free vote issue for MPs (rather than a whipped vote), so the focus now moves on to lobbying MPs to ensure we win.

We must stress three important points to those MPs. First, it is unacceptable that some hunt staff and masters are being dragged through the courts on the basis of vindictive allegations, while the rest are constantly looking over their shoulders.

Second, the police are being forced to waste thousands of hours investigating pointless Hunting Act allegations which could be spent tackling real crime; and third, that the courts are spending weeks sitting on senseless cases that, in the rare example of guilty verdicts, see people fined a few hundred pounds.

The current situation is not a fudge or a compromise. It is an unjustified and illiberal attack on a rural minority based on nothing other than prejudice.

We all want to see this issue resolved for good, but that must be on the basis of principle and evidence, not an irrational prohibition.

Our aim is simple: properly conducted hunting activity as conducted prior to 18 February 2005 should be legal, and no one hunting in a legitimate manner should be looking over their shoulder concerned about criminal prosecution. There can be no compromise on that.

Commitment of a community

Hunting has never shied away from debates about proper wild mammal welfare legislation and regulation. The Government is aware of this and we will look at any proposals it brings forward and discuss them with the Council of Hunting Associations (CHA).

In addition the CHA has developed a detailed proposal for self-regulation through a “Hunting Regulatory Authority” should that be required. There is a clear will to resolve this issue once and for all, and an understanding that just repealing the Act, while leaving a vacuum, would be unlikely to achieve that.

To help achieve a positive outcome for hunting and for our hunt staff, we need to act now. We need every single person who opposes the illiberal and illogical Hunting Act to contact their MP and let them know their views.

You can send an email to your MP from the Countryside Alliance website

(www.countryside-alliance.org), but please don’t stop there, encourage your friends and family to act as well. We need you to lobby and to write, and to join as members of the CA both to support our work financially, and to show the size and commitment of our community.

Together we can send the strongest possible message to Westminster that the Hunting Act must go.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 4 June 2015

There was a mixed reaction to the fact there was no reference to the Hunting Act in The Queen’s Speech delivered at the State Opening of Parliament on 27 May from those on both sides of the hunting debate.

Some anti-hunting campaigners expressed satisfaction that David Cameron’s outlined programme for the coming session did not mention his manifesto pledge to offer a vote on repeal of the act. The RSPCA heralded it “a victory for foxes”.

However, the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) was more circumspect, issuing a statement reading: “The potential repeal of the Hunting Act may not be in The Queen’s speech, but we don’t think for a second that the issue has gone away. The threat to the Hunting Act remains.”

The move came as a surprise to some following the commitment in the Conservative Party manifesto to give Parliament the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, with a Government bill.

On the other side of the debate, the pro-hunting lobby was less concerned by the absence of any mention of repeal.

Tim Bonner, the director of campaigns at the Countryside Alliance told H&H: “There was never any expectation that a repeal Bill would be part of The Queen’s Speech.

“It is obviously not one of the Government’s priorities, but a vote on repeal is a manifesto commitment and all the signs are that it will be delivered quickly and dealt with speedily.

“We look forward to the Government bringing forward its proposal and believe that any debate on the failed Hunting Act will see a majority of MPs voting to get rid of it.”

Prior to the Hunting Act becoming law, there was much debate in the Commons and the Lords.

The two Houses were unable to reach an agreement so Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons, invoked the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 to pass the bill.

As a result the Hunting Act 2004 achieved royal assent on 18 October 2004 and came into force on 18 February 2005.

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Some of you may have read my online column written on the Wednesday before the general election. If you did, you’ll know I predicted a Conservative win but with a small majority. Not bad for a Master of Foxhounds (MFH) residing south of the Thames.

Well, even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day.

I watched the results in New York. It was an ostracising feeling to be in America and so far away when the incredible news was delivered — Clegg resigns; Miliband resigns; Farage resigns (but he remains UKIP leader after the party rejected his resignation); Hughes loses seat. And my personal highlight, Balls loses his seat.

When I started in the Pony Club in the early 1970s, a blue rosette meant you’d finished in second place. In politics in 2015, it signifies winner and a winner against all the odds. I have had so many side bets with friends and others over the past year, I have lost track but I am looking forward to remembering them all and collecting soon.

So how did it happen?

Vote-OK and all those masterminding their strategy deserve all the praise they will receive in the coming weeks. They were set a Herculean task and they prevailed.

Our own target seat was Sutton and Cheam where Paul Scully, the Conservative candidate, was duly elected. That is three general elections in a row where the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent have focused on a marginal seat and been asked to “go and help where you can”. That now makes it three wins from three.

I’m sure many other packs of hounds may have put in more man hours than we did, and now is the time to thank and congratulate them all for their efforts.

But there should be no gloating or crowing from the hunting community, just relief that a light at the end of a very dark and very long tunnel has at last come in to view. Let’s be honest, we are weary and we may have won, but we still need to sink the putt.

Doing us proud

I do not know what happens now — I will leave that to the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) and others. We must trust them to do the right thing. If those who represent us can, they will right the wrong that is the Hunting Act 2004 in whatever form that takes.

It will play out in the next few months as all things do in politics, but what is for sure is that those who did so much from our community to secure this once-in-a-lifetime result for the Conservative party should be proud of themselves, as should all those who helped them.

In the next few days and weeks, you may see many people beating a path to No 10 Downing Street, but few have as much right as the hunting community does to walk that particular walk.

As I said last Wednesday, “I left Great Britain in the drizzle and the wind” with a feeling of impending gloom that my generation may well have to preside over the end of hunting as we knew it. But I was certain I would be landing yesterday (Wednesday 13 May) in the sun with plenty of blue sky on show, whatever the weather.

They say a week is a long time in politics…

Ref: Horse & Hound; 21 May 2015

It’s hard not to be optimistic. Royal Windsor Horse Show brought in spring with unforgettable displays of horsemanship — little and large.

And now that the Conservatives are back in, their promise to offer a free vote in government time over the future of the Hunting Act 2004 offers — for the first time in years — a real hope for us all.

Horse & Hound’s position has always been clear: we support any opportunity to change this bad piece of legislation. For more than 10 years hunts have been operating under a law that has proved to be unworkable and unfair, and should never have reached the statute books — it is a “running sore in the countryside”, as Simon Hart MP said recently.

The use of the Parliament Act to push the ruling through was one of the most astonishing moves in modern politics.

Many of us would wish for a repeal — others argue that clauses such as the two-hound rule be removed. Some believe we should continue as we are. We can however be assured that those in power within Defra and other government departments are in meetings with the leaders from the Countryside Alliance and the Council of Hunting Associations to find a workable solution.

We wish them well.

But there is one area over which there can be no compromise: last week’s heartfelt comment by Old Berks huntsman Michael Scott spoke for us all when he said: “We hope that one day hunt staff will be able to go about their duties on a hunting day without fear of prosecution.” If there is one thing we would like to see changed, it is to allow the decent people whose lives depend on hunting to be allowed to do so in peace.

We will be keeping a close eye on proceedings and pass on news as we hear it. The election was won, now let the battle on behalf of hunting commence.

Kylie O’Brien; Horse & Hound Acting Print Editorial Director

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The result of the general election has been welcomed by the rural community, and in particular the hunting fraternity.

Like a large number of the population, many sat up through the night, intrigued at the developments unfolding after the early exit polls predicted a Conservative victory. This was something that had seemed unlikely during the build-up to election day (7 May), with most polls predicting a hung parliament, where no single political party has won enough seats to form a majority government.

The Conservatives made a pledge in their 2015 manifesto to support countryside pursuits by giving Parliament “the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, with a government bill in government time.”

The Countryside Alliance’s head of media, Tim Bonner, welcomed the news. “We are very pleased that the Conservatives have been able to form a majority government and look forward to them delivering on that commitment,” he said.

Those working on behalf of the political campaigning group Vote-OK — largely made up of supporters from various packs of hounds around the country — have been hard at work in target constituencies around the country. They were focusing on seats that were deemed marginal enough for sustained campaigning to make a difference.

Although there are no specific figures to show the effects of their campaigning so soon after the overall results have been announced, the efforts of the group have been recognised by the Prime Minister who, early this morning, sent a text saying: “Please thank Vote-Ok for all their amazing work.”

Yesterday (Thursday 7 May), Richard Gurney MFH, one of H&H’s hunting columnists, correctly predicted the following in an online comment: “I do not subscribe to the theory that the British public is so stupid that ‘Red Ed’ will arrive in Downing Street by accident with the SNP in tow. I predict the Conservative party will win an outright majority but by a slim margin.”

For more see next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out Thursday 14 May

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The hunt horses are all out and away to enjoy their summer holidays and, after a couple of false starts, spring is finally here. It has been another long season with scarcely a break.

A few untimely injuries mid-season put some horses out of action, adding to pressure on the remainder. But the expertise of the stud groom kept the show on the road.

After difficult and varied scenting conditions pre-Christmas, things improved. We chalked up some noteworthy days and finished the season on a high. I think that was the case for most areas, not just the Shires.

The Belvoir point-to-point took place at Garthorpe recently where, despite the leaden skies and heavy showers, a good crowd enjoyed some excellent racing. The occasion provided the opportunity to present our first whipper-in, “Little” George Pierce, with a hunting horn in gratitude for his five years’ service — how time has flown.

As of 1 May, he will join the throng of lorries moving up and down the arteries of Britain, as hunt servants take up their new positions. George leaves to become kennel-huntsman to the Cattistock in Dorset. More than a few local maidens will no doubt be left dewy-eyed…

Two of my colleagues are retiring from hunt service at the end of the month. Both have been, in the words of the immortal Tom Firr: “An ornament to our profession”.

Joe Townsend leaves the Hurworth after a long and distinguished career — he was obviously gifted with a stockman’s eye. The Hurworth are Old English foxhounds and Joe leaves them with a high-quality and level pack. He has bred some superb stallion hounds that have helped improve the Belvoir enormously.

Patrick Martin also places his horn upon the mantel after 23 years’ service at the Bicester with Whaddon Chase. Not only has he been at the top of the premiership as a huntsman, he, like many others, has endured — with much fortitude — unwarranted scrutiny from those self-appointed “hunt monitors” these past 10 years.

Patrick was at the forefront of the campaign to stop the Hunting Act, and remains an eloquent spokesman for our cause. I wish them both an easy transition into civilian life and good fortune along whichever paths they choose.

Make your vote count

Speaking of the Hunting Act, 1 May is not the only date to concern the hunting world. On the 7th we have possibly our last chance to elect a majority Conservative government, which will give us the opportunity to rid ourselves of this loathsome hunting law.

The coalition has given the Tories a reason for failing to fulfil their election pledge for a free vote on repeal. They have since reiterated their intention to do so, which in our urban-centric country is a bold statement that demonstrates a genuine commitment to repeal.

In any marginal constituencies your vote is important. If you are a hunting person then your vote will count. Just one or two blue seats lost may well be the difference between repeal and the current position, which remains intolerable for many hunt staff.

Do the right thing on this occasion, then full steam ahead for repeal.

Ref: H&H 30 April, 2015

On Thursday (7 May) the country goes to the polls, and equestrian organisations are “imploring” whoever will be the new leader to tackle issues within the industry.

This February saw the 10-year anniversary of the Hunting Act, brought in by a Labour government.

However, a recent YouGov poll suggests that public support for the Hunting Act has dropped from 61% to 51% since 2004. Opposition to the Act stands at 44% among Conservative voters, but 64% of Labour voters are in support.

Parties have set out their manifestos, and issues — including hunting — are highlighted (see below).

“It will be so important for the new administration to work with the [equestrian] sector to meet the challenges as clearly laid out in the sector’s Manifesto for the Horse. Despite financial constraints we implore the new government to think very carefully before taking the cheap option to meet any of these challenges,” said Roly Owers of World Horse Welfare.

“For example, completing the job of introducing a robust system of equine identification is pivotal, and poor decision-making on the basis of costs could have widespread ramifications, including on food safety. And the dysfunctional and ineffective system of compliance checking and enforcement of welfare, health and documentation laws at British ports is a ticking time bomb.

“We need effective intelligence-led enforcement to protect our horses, and World Horse Welfare and other NGOs [non-governmental organisations] can help to achieve this, but only if the systems are in place to do so.”

James Legge, head of political affairs for the Countryside Alliance (CA), said that many of the issues identified in the CA’s election manifesto have been picked up by the political parties.

“Clearly we also welcome the Conservative commitment to protect hunting, shooting and fishing, and to give parliament the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act,” he said.

“The Green Party has launched an all-out attack on country sports. UKIP and the Liberal Democrats are silent on the issue. Whatever the outcome of the election there will be much to do not only to ensure that policies deliver, but also that the interests of the country sports community are protected.”

What the parties are offering in their manifestos that could affect equestrians

Conservative

Free vote on hunting

14,000 flood defence schemes

Make good biodiversity losses from HS2

Major review of business rates

Country of origin food labelling in Europe

Labour

Defend the hunting ban

Keep forests in public ownership

Prioritise flood prevention

Freeze business rates and energy bills for small rural companies

Liberal democrats

New, non-political body to manage national forests

Review governance of flood risk and drainage

Low emission zones in towns

Green

Speed limits of 20mph in villages

Review racing and ban the whip

Introduce land value tax

Extra £1bn on flood defences

UKIP

Scrap HS2

Animal cruelty more punishable

Mandatory CCTV in abattoirs

Add rare-breed saving to stewardship schemes

Ref: H&H 30 May, 2015

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An investigation into an attack on Tedworth joint master and huntsman Mike Lane has been dropped by the police.

Mr Lane was left with two fractured teeth and concussion following a clash between hunt saboteurs and members of the Tedworth on 24 January.

He claims he was kicked in the head by saboteurs when hounds were boxing up at the end of the day in Wiltshire.

There were reportedly around six hunt saboteurs present at the time of the incident.

Anti-hunt protestors wearing balaclavas and face masks, in two vehicles that have been reported to be associated with Bristol and Southampton hunt saboteur groups, had been present all day.

During the incident, where hunt supporters requested the saboteurs leave the property because hounds were going home, Mr Lane slipped over and was kicked while laying on the ground.

He was knocked unconscious and an ambulance was called. He was treated at a local hospital.

“It is a great disappointment to us and to Mike that Wiltshire Police have not been able to bring his attackers to book yet. We urge anyone who has information about those responsible to come forward,” Tim Bonner, director of campaigns for the Countryside Alliance (CA), told H&H.

“The fact that the law on face coverings is so unwieldy is an incitement to violence. These anti-hunting thugs are carrying out attacks with impunity knowing they can hide behind their balaclavas and will not be brought to book.

“There have been at least three vicious attacks in recent years where those responsible could not be identified. The police need to look very closely at this issue and we believe their needs to be a change in the law to allow police officers to unmask these violent criminals.”

Earlier this year the CA urged hunts to remain “calm and vigilant” and to write to their local police, crime commissioners and MPs about masked animal rights activists.

The police do have powers to order the removal of face coverings, but they are not straightforward.

“Because the process is complicated, we believe police forces should be prepared to deploy these powers when animal rights extremists appear in their areas,” added Mr Bonner.

“Where police forces are prepared to use these powers, we believe that the likelihood of intimidation and public disorder is reduced.”

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Eventing fans and riders that will be heading to Badminton this year (7-10 May) are encouraged to register for a postal vote, as the general election falls on the first day of the Gloucestershire horse trials.

Voting will take place on Thursday 7 May, and rural and equestrian organisations are urging all those with a love and interest in countryside affairs to vote. Those away from home will need a postal vote to do so.

Voters are encouraged to put pressure on politicians to make sure rural issues are not pushed aside.

James Legge, head of political affairs for the Countryside Alliance, told H&H: “It is very important that the rural voice is heard in the general election so we would urge everyone to firstly check that they are registered to vote, and then if they will be away from home on polling day that they apply for a postal vote.”

Equestrian and rural campaign groups are fighting for political advantage as country issues begin to dominate the 2015 general election campaign — including the ongoing problems with fly grazing, which to tackle needs governments funds. Also an issue is the concept of a central equine database, which is to be compulsory under EU regulations by 2016.

Badminton final scores

A major focus is the Hunting Act, which more than a decade after the Hunting Act was introduced, hunts remain unanimous in their message that the act is unworkable and must be repealed.

Earlier this month Prime Minister David Cameron said a Conservative government would give parliament the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, with a government Bill in government time.

The Master of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) has said it will put pressure on any future government to repeal the act.

“From the start the Act was about class warfare, not animal welfare,” said the MFHA’s Tim Easby.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 April 2015

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There are 34 days until the general election.

Vote-OK, the countryside campaigning organisation, is asking all hunt supporters to devote just 12 hours to active political campaigning for candidates who support our rural way of life.

We now need to look to the future, but the future under a hostile government after May 2015 would look bleak indeed. Along with oft-repeated threats to maintain or even strengthen the Hunting Act, the Labour Party has also declared war on other rural activities, with its latest pronouncements about “cruelty on shooting estates”.

The Campaign to Strengthen the Hunting Act certainly wants Labour to do more.

This would include imposing a six-month prison sentence as a penalty for an offence under the Hunting Act, introducing a new offence of “reckless hunting” — which would penalise anyone whose dogs hunted a mammal accidentally — and finally making it an offence to lay a trail anywhere “where wild mammals are likely to be found”.

The lack of understanding of how animals and the countryside work that is demonstrated in these proposals is stunning.

And for those who talk about sticking with the current status quo, consider this: under a Conservative administration, the current status quo will be the floor, the base level from which things might improve. Under a Labour administration, the current status quo will be the ceiling, from which we dangle precariously by our fingertips.

‘Don’t just complain — campaign!’

You may feel that the ban has not affected your life very much — but none of us should sit back and say “I’m alright, Jack. It doesn’t affect me”.

Do you want to retain a law passed to discriminate against people who hunt, or would you prefer to get rid of it and replace it with something that actually improves animal welfare and wildlife management?

The outcome of this general election is going to be crucial to the future, not just of hunting but many other countryside issues. Rural people often complain that the government is too urban-centric. One of the mottos of Vote-OK is: “Don’t just complain — campaign!”

We all have the opportunity to set to work and help choose who will be making the laws that protect and preserve our countryside. We owe it to ourselves, our children and the countryside itself, to make sure that we pick people who actually understand the countryside and how it works.

So what can you do to help?

The answer: get involved in the political process. Don’t just vote — although that is crucial — but make sure that you are registered and get a postal vote if you will not be able to vote locally on 7 May.

So get out and engage in the political campaign. All candidates need volunteers to deliver leaflets, put up posters, stuff envelopes, make telephone calls and many other things.

If you are in contact with your local hunt, they can advise you of a local constituency where your help might make a difference, or you can look at the website of Vote-OK (www.vote-ok.co.uk) and volunteer. Don’t just sit back and wait to be asked. There isn’t enough time for that. Be proactive — contact them and ask how you can help.

Twelve hours to save hunting, the same as two days’ hunting: can you afford not to make that investment?

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 April 2015

The RSPCA’s only pending prosecution of a hunt was dropped yesterday (Wednesday 18 March) due to lack of evidence.

Will Bryer, master and huntsman of the Cattistock Hunt in Dorset, had been charged with one offence of hunting a fox with dogs. The incident was alleged to have taken place on 2 December 2014.

A hearing was due to take place at Weymouth Magistrates Court on Friday (20 March).

However, the RSPCA has written to Mr Bryer’s solicitor Jamie Foster, stating it would not be pursuing the prosecution as there is no evidence on which they could legitimately continue.

The RSPCA had initially relied on video evidence collected as part of a covert surveillance operation by another animal rights group, the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

“In the 10 years since the Hunting Act came into force no one involved with the Cattistock Hunt has been convicted of breaking the law,” said Mr Bryer.”I am very pleased that the RSPCA has finally seen sense and dropped the case against me, but there was never any justification for it in the first place.”

Last year an independent review into the RSPCA’s policy suggested that the charity needed to consider the significant costs of mounting such prosecutions.

The report, carried out by former chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Stephen Wooler, made 33 recommendations on the charity’s investigation and prosecution activity.

It advised that the RSPCA should continue its role as prosecuting body, but the organisation accepted it needed to adapt its approach to law enforcement.

One of the criticisms levelled at the RSPCA was the amount of money spent on prosecutions under the Hunting Act.

Tim Bonner, director of campaigns for the Countryside Alliance (CA), added: “This was the only outstanding prosecution of a hunt by the RSPCA and we hope it will be the last time the charity involves itself in such a case.

“There is a clear conflict of interest in a political campaigning organisation bringing prosecutions of this sort and the RSPCA should take the advice of its own independent reviewer and leave such allegations to be independently considered by the police and CPS.”

CA’s figures show that in 2013 — the last year the RSPCA carried out prosecutions of hunts before this case — 79% of the summonses issued by the RSPCA against hunt staff and supporters failed, costing more than £100,000 of tax payers’ money.

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There is a pub in Kennington called the Prince of Wales, tucked away in a nice little Georgian square. It’s where for years the Countryside Alliance team would retreat to celebrate and commiserate — something of a regular occurrence in those days.

And it was there that, on the night the Parliament Act finally brought the curtain down on 700 hours of Parliamentary debate on hunting, our forces gathered for the final time as champions of this lawful and historic activity.

As is the way of these things, the mood was surprisingly upbeat. We may have lost the votes but we had won the arguments; we had shifted public opinion, and we had changed the media attitude to hunting forever. But emotions ran high as the finality of that moment sunk in.

I took calls from some of the team who had been with us from the start. Sam Butler, Julian Barnfield, Patrick Martin all checked in — as robust as ever, but I sensed a feeling of overwhelming anger. Darren Hughes chirpy, Nicky Driver defiant, John Jackson unshakeable.

My chat with the Manns — who probably had given as much as anybody — lifted my troubled spirits and inspired me to return to the barricades to launch the counter attack.

There was no doubt that Labour had been damaged by this (as Tony Blair later conceded). It had revealed an unpleasant streak of vengefulness and prejudice that the New Labour project had sought to conceal. Our people, our quirky ways, our hitherto unseen communities had been bullied and ridiculed for no good reason that any truly independent observer could really fathom.

But it was this that was their biggest mistake. I can say now that before all of this kicked off, we knew that such was the weight of the Labour majority that our best efforts would still only delay, rather than avert, the inevitable consequence of decades of pent-up political aggression and attrition.

We knew that our fight back was possibly too little, too late, but crucial nonetheless. These aggressors had, for many years, never been countered at all.

We assumed — wrongly — that if we kept out of the political limelight, they would eventually leave us alone. So in some ways, now was actually our chance to put that right. They say that “time is the weapon of opposition”, so we set about creating that.

Constant political dog fighting — marches, demonstrations, stunts — all backed up by legal challenges provided us the time we needed to get the evidence to make the case. Liberty, welfare, economy, community, heritage and management all had their place in the mix. Each needed new and eloquent evangelists sweeping through the local and national media. There were meetings with Blair and his team in no. 10 that still remain unreported…

Continued below…

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Still here, still hunting: 10 years after the ban [H&H VIP]

A decade after the Hunting Act came into force, hunts across the country are unanimous in their message — support

And what about “plan b” — the “what if we are banned” scenario?

John Jackson said that there was no such thing as “plan b”, only a “plan a” that we should be prepared to adjust. He was right.

So “plan b” emerged rather by mistake. We had often talked about disobedience; indeed it split our ranks somewhat. What happened next was better than that. We had three months from November to February to get ready for “enactment”; just a few weeks to find loopholes (thanks to the rushed nature

of the final stages, there were plenty to choose from).

As I emerged from the steps of the High Court, confronted by a press pack that was normally reserved for fallen celebrities, and with the bitter taste of defeat in my mouth, I was asked, “what next?”.

Stumped for words, I simply said: “Keep fighting, keep hunting.”

And that is what happened. By the time we got to 18 February 2005 — the first day’s hunting under the Hunting Act — I knew we had them beaten. Everyone intact, thousands flocking to our cause, global media and an absolute determination that it would be “business as usual” has carried hunting from that day to this.

With or without repeal, the Hunting Act is dead. It died on 18 February 2005. What remains now is the need to give it a decent burial.

Ref: H&H Thursday 19 February, 2015

Ten years ago, those charged with the everyday organisation of hunting were facing the unknown.

What had been a legal activity one day became illegal overnight, but those at the forefront had to keep the show on the road. Faced with adversity, the hunting community came out fighting and has continued to prove that the Hunting Act 2004 is an unworkable and bad piece of legislation that must be changed.

Keeping members of hunt staff positive, maintaining important bloodlines within kennels, and convincing farmers that there was still good reason to allow hunts to continue lawful activities on their land, while at the same time encouraging the young to pursue a career in hunting, all went on behind the scenes.

It was crucial to ensure that the new form of sport being provided to subscribers and supporters would sustain their appetites enough for them to continue wanting to renew their subscriptions. With the sport as popular as ever, this has to be considered a job well done.

Simply unacceptable

Being a master under the restrictions of the Hunting Act 2004 is not an easy role, but being a member of hunt staff is particularly challenging. Aside from the restrictions of the Act, there can be few other jobs in this world where a person has to suffer being pursued by total strangers, often wearing balaclavas and videoing their every move, in the hope that they break the law. This is simply unacceptable.

On behalf of all those who hunt, heartfelt thanks to those who have played their part in keeping our sport healthy and to ensure there is a future to look forward to.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 19 February 2015

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Ten years ago, the hunting world stood united as the ban was pushed through parliament and a decade later they are “still here and still hunting”.

In 2004, the Labour government used the Parliament Act to ensure opposition in the House of Lords could not scupper the 2004 Hunting Bill, backed in a free vote of the House of Commons.

However, despite concerns, the resilience of the hunting community has ensured that the sport has not only continued but also grown in support.

“We’ve had a very strong 10 years since the ban,” the Berkeley’s joint-master Henry Berkeley told H&H. “Numbers have increased as people have wanted to understand what hunting is about, have sympathised with our plight and enjoyed it enough to continue.”

“There is no doubt that support for hunting is as strong as it has ever been,” West Norfolk joint-master Charles Carter added.

“Hunting has a potentially bright future as we have a huge number of the younger generation getting involved with the sport and the lifestyle.”

Growing public support

There is evidence showing that the general public’s opinion on the ban is changing.

An impartial poll carried out by YouGov revealed that there has been a 10% drop in support for the ban from 61% to 51% in the past 10 years.

The Countryside Alliance’s Tim Bonner argues that this shift has been created as people understand the impracticality of the Act.

“The law has proved just as unworkable, pointless and wasteful as we predicted, and it seems the public is realising this fact,” said Mr Bonner.

“Nearly half of the people polled by YouGov do not support the Hunting Act, which gives us hope that repeal of this illiberal and illogical piece of legislation will happen.”

Figures released by the CA show that 341 people were convicted of Hunting Act offences between 2005 and 2013, but that only 21 of those are involved with registered hunts.

There has been heavy criticism of the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of cases being brought to trial.

The RSPCA has also come under fire for using public donations to fund prosecutions. In July, it was announced that the charity had seen a £7million drop in donations, but it denied this was related to its political activities.

No time for complacency

Despite the positive signs, hunt supporters are being urged not to be complacent and that the need for repeal is still vital and urgent.

“It would be a mistake to think that just because we have survived the past 10 years, we will be safe for the next decade. The legislation must be reworked if hunting is to survive,” Mr Carter added.

The Masters of Foxhounds Association’s (MFHA) Tim Easby told H&H: “Hunts are nothing short of outstanding in their determination to beat this ban. We must get this wretched ban repealed or replaced and get hunting back where it belongs, without further meddling from parliamentarians who know nothing and care very little about it.”

Ref: H&H 19 February, 2015

Another Hunting Act case, brought to court because of evidence supplied by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), failed in court today (Thursday 12 February).

Middleton hunt master and huntsman Tom Holt, 28, was found not guilty of a Hunting Act offence during a trial at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court.

Employees of LACS had filmed Mr Holt undercover on 19 February 2014 near Malton in North Yorkshire and made allegations of illegal hunting.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) brought the prosecution but after after a one-day trial a district judge ruled there was not enough evidence.

The court heard claims that the footage showed Mr Holt chasing a fox “with a pack of hounds as bugles blared”. Mr Holt maintained that the video had been taken while he was legally following a trail.

Tim Bonner, director of campaigns at the Countryside Alliance (CA), said: “This is the second failed hunt prosecution brought by North Yorkshire CPS on the basis of allegations made by LACS employees in a matter of weeks.

“We are increasingly concerned that innocent people are being dragged through the courts at the behest of animal rights activists, and that taxpayers have to pick up the bill.

“The police and CPS must urgently review their relationship with animal rights groups like LACS.

“Allegations made by biased witnesses based on unauthorised covert surveillance are no basis for a sound prosecution.”

Last month (21 January) another case brought by the CPS on LACS evidence collapsed at York Magistrates Court.

Two members of the Lunesdale hunt — Terence “Ted” Potter and Paul Whitehead — were both accused of one charge of hunting a wild mammal with a dog on 18 February 2014

However, following an application by the Lunesdale’s lawyer Stephen Welford, the magistrates ruled there was no case to answer as there was no evidence that either man was even present on the day in question.

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A new badge to show support for hunting has been designed by the Countryside Alliance to show that a decade on from the ban we’re “Still here, still hunting”.

Henrietta Rutgers of the Alliance’s hunting campaign said: “This badge is a celebration of hunting and signifies the strength of this great tradition which continues to survive 10 years on from the introduction of the Hunting Act. All proceeds from the sale of this badge will go directly to the Hunting Campaign, which continues to fight for repeal of this unjust and unworkable law.”

The Hunting Act came into force on 18 February 2005, but 10 years on hunts have not folded and have adapted to find new ways to hunt within the confines of the current legislation. The Alliance expects about a quarter of a million people to support their local hunts on Boxing Day.

At the time, Horse & Hound recorded the anxiety of its readership over the prospective ban and talked to those involved with hunting about how they believed hunting would continue under the new law. Despite the changes, the hunting fraternity remained upbeat and vowed to fight for repeal of the act while working within the law in the meantime.

Since the ban was enforced on 18 February 2005, registered hunts in England and Wales have carried out more than 150,000 days hunting.

Data from the Ministry of Justice from 2005-2013 shows that although 341 people have been convicted of Hunting Act offences, just 21 of those people were involved with registered hunts.

Tim Bonner, of the CA added: “The determination of hunts, and the continued support of the wider rural community, has ensured that hunting is still thriving 10 years after the Hunting Act was passed, but the law has proved just as unworkable, pointless and wasteful as we predicted.

Badges cost £5. Buy yours from https://www.countryside-alliance.org.uk/ca/products.php

Ref: Horse & Hound; 18 December 2014

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A quarter of a million people are expected to turn out this time next week (26 December) to support hunts on their biggest day of the calendar — the Boxing Day meet.

More than 300 meets will take place across the country next Friday — more than 10 years after the Hunting Act was passed by parliament.

Boxing Day meets have traditionally drawn huge crowds, both mounted and on foot, to enjoy the atmosphere and pubic appetite has not dwindled since the ban.

Countryside Alliance executive chairman Barney White-Spunner said: “Ten years after the Hunting Act was passed in England and Wales more than 300 hunts are still here and still hunting.

“Support for hunting is a strong as ever because people are determined not to bow to this prejudice.

“The Hunting Act does not protect foxes or other quarry species and has achieved nothing other than to waste hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money and thousands of hours of police time.”

While hope of the current coalition changing the law has faded support groups are now focusing their attention on the future government.

“The next government, of whatever political colour, needs to accept that the Hunting Act is not working and repeal or replace the Act,” Mr White Spunner added.

H&H’s hunting editor Polly Portwin also recommends supporting your local hunt on Boxing Day.

“Hunting on Boxing Day is the perfect way to burn off any excess calories consumed so set the racing on record, go out hunting then enjoy your cold turkey in front of the fire later on while watching the King George re-plays,” Polly said.

If you are heading out to your Boxing Day of New Year meet and you’re handy with a camera don’t forget to send your photos into H&H.

We will be featuring a picture gallery from Christmas meets around the country in our 8 January issue and we will be publishing images on the Horse & Hound website.

Please send in pictures of your local hunt to hhpictures@timeinc.com

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The hunting community has welcomed the news that the sport will continue to be an important topic in Europe with the re-establishment of the ‘Hunting Intergroup’ in the European Parliament.

The Parliamentary Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting and Countryside is a group of MEPs from across the political spectrum who have an interest in the issues.

As is normal, the Intergroup was dissolved before the 2014 European Elections, but with hard work from the European Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) — including the Countryside Alliance — it has now been reformed.

The re-establishment of the Intergroup was supported by over 100 MEPs from all political groups in the European Parliament, 15 from the UK, and is one of 29 Intergroups approved from 70 proposed.

The final approval was taken last week by the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents of the political groups.

James Legge, of the Countryside Alliance, said: “The Intergroup, which has existed since 1985, is one of largest and most active in the European Parliament, contributing to debates on wildlife conservation and management, firearms legislation, public and animal health policies and rural issues.

“It plays a vital role in ensuring that hunting is represented at the heart of European decision making and the strong support from MEPs is a recognition of the important role that hunting plays within the European countryside.”

In November the sport celebrated surviving 10 years after the Hunting Act was forced through Parliament.

Despite the changes, the hunting fraternity remained upbeat and vowed to fight for repeal of the act while working within the law in the meantime.

Since the ban was enforced on 18 February 2005, registered hunts in England and Wales have carried out more than 150,000 days hunting.

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Hound puppies have buckets full of mischief and rarely a grain of malice, but I have never considered their telepathic talents until recently. Save for the odd weekend break (probably to regain some of the puppy walkers’ sanity or re-landscape the garden), kennels had been free of hound puppies for several months. Yet within a couple of hours on Monday morning the whole of one litter of puppies, neatly spaced around our hunt country, were coming back to kennels.

Our long-suffering puppy walkers have been joined by several new recruits this year, so, not wishing to seem ungrateful, I fixed a smile and welcomed them home. As ever the walkers have done a fantastic job and all of the young hounds bounded into kennels, looking a million dollars. Once properly settled they will be walking out and eager to begin the next stage of their education.

Planning ahead

Hunt committees should be addressing their mastership arrangements for next season shortly. They will need to confirm whether the incumbent team (or a variation thereof) will remain in office, or if a completely new team is required. The committee needs to consider carefully what sort of arrangement best suits the country, its finances and expectations in order to produce top quality sport and a happy ship — not just whether to have an amateur or professional huntsman.

Avid H&H readers will know that the opening meet normally heralds the first wave of adverts for next season’s masterships. The next wave is generally in January — the traditional month for any job-related blues — and there are usually a few last-minute affairs just before Hunting’s Advent on 1 May.

Due to hunting’s seasonal nature, it is surely the only area of life which demands such a long “play-out” after notice is given — no City-style “gardening leave” here. Indeed for most professional hunt staff and masters, the majority of the actual hunting season is normally post-notice.

This can produce all manner of scenarios — an awkward few months, a never-ending testimonial, a wonderful last hurrah, prolonged tears and laughter. In any event, as it is necessary for new masters and staff to bed in before the season starts, it is still probably the best system.

With the pressures of a modern life and a 21st century mastership, the Hunting Act notwithstanding, the average mastership length is thought to be three seasons. Much is made about short terms in office. However, any glance through Baily’s Hunting Directory shows that brief masterships are nothing new. At least packs of hounds aren’t bought and sold with every change of master any more.

Long, successful masterships are of course highly preferable for the happiness of a hunt country, and still exist today in many parts.

When I took office I recall being told in no uncertain terms by a highly respected hunt chairman, now a Peer of the Realm, that I was about to take on the most important responsibility of my life, namely the guardianship of a pack of hounds and a hunt country.

As I had only had a couple of jobs previously, was unmarried and had no known dependents, save for Poppy, my faithful terrier, I thought it was worth the risk. Fourteen years, a family and a receding hairline later, I think both the noble Lord and I were (almost) right.

Fact or fiction?

Hunting’s bush telegraph buzzes at this time of year with news of who is moving where, sometimes even before the protagonists know about it. Last summer I learnt with amusement that I was not only moving to a particular vale country 200 miles from Sussex, but also that I had recently met with the chairman and the committee, who were equally delighted.

It took some time to convince the various newshounds that I wouldn’t know the aforementioned chairman if he walked in the room.

When looking to move it is important to remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side, although the view may be more appealing. Hunts tend to fall into two categories — those with a generally positive, friendly outlook on events and, sadly, those who stumble gratuitously from one hunt row to another. Careful research is essential.

Now the temperature has dropped and once again we have suffered a biblical amount of rain, hounds have found their top gear and our maximum sized mounted fields are enjoying the good going. “Where do they all come from?” my much-missed late joint- master used to bellow in puzzled amazement. As long as the farmers can take it, I think it is rather good.

Ref: H&H 11 December, 2014

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Ten years ago today (18 November 2004), the hunting world was facing a very different future for their sport following the forcing of the Hunting Act 2004 through Parliament.

After many years of debate in both the House of Commons and the Lords, no outright decision on the future of hunting was made. On this day in 2004, Commons Speaker Michael Martin invoked the use of the Parliament Act to push the bill into law. The Hunting Act 2004 came into force three months later on 18 February 2005.

At the time, Horse & Hound recorded the anxiety of its readership over the prospective ban and talked to those involved with hunting about how they believed hunting would continue under the new law (pictured top). Despite the changes, the hunting fraternity remained upbeat and vowed to fight for repeal of the act while working within the law in the meantime.

Since the ban was enforced on 18 February 2005, registered hunts in England and Wales have carried out more than 150,000 days hunting.

Data from the Ministry of Justice from 2005-2013 shows that although 341 people have been convicted of Hunting Act offences, just 21 of those people were involved with registered hunts.

Tim Bonner, director of campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, said: “The determination of hunts, and the continued support of the wider rural community, has ensured that hunting is still thriving 10 years after the Hunting Act was passed, but the law has proved just as unworkable, pointless and wasteful as we predicted.

“A law which was passed because of MPs’ obsession with fox hunting has been used almost exclusively to prosecute poachers. A law which was supposed to be about animal welfare has not reduced suffering or stopped foxes being killed. A law which was supposed to be ‘straightforward and enforceable’ has continued to create confusion in the courts and waste hundreds of hours of police time.”

Those opposed to hunting thought the ban would force those involved to pack up and do something else with their time. Yet a decade on, the sport remains as well-supported as ever with more than 300 hunts still going strong. There remains a determination from those involved to overturn what is deemed to be an illogical, badly drafted and unfair law. Who knows what lies ahead in the next 10 years?

Enjoy more hunting articles from Horse & Hound

Were you out with the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale or West Norfolk? [PICTURES]

Now that the hunting season is in full swing, Horse & Hound’s hunting correspondents and photographers are out in force

A beginner’s guide to trail hunting: all your key questions answered

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Ten years ago today (18 November) the Hunting Act 2004 was forced through Parliament and three months later, on 18 February 2005 it became law. H&H reminds you of the important dates along the road to the ban coming into force…

1949

Two private members’ bills to ban or restrict hunting fail to make it onto the statute books.

1992

A private member’s bill to make hunting with dogs illegal is rejected by the Commons.

Labour MP Kevin McNamara proposed The Wild Mammals (Protection) Bill, which was defeated on its second reading.

1993

Tony Banks, a Labour MP and animal rights campaigner, failed to get his Fox Hunting (Abolition) Bill passed by Parliament.

1995

Another Labour MP, John McFall, fails with his private member’s bill to ban hunting. The Wild Mammals (Protection) Bill passes a second reading in the Commons before being heavily amended and falling in the Lords.

May 1997

The Labour Party wins the general election and in its manifesto promises a free vote in Parliament on hunting.

5 November 1997

Michael Foster MP publishes a private member’s bill to ban hunting with dogs.

1 March 1998

Countryside Rally in Hyde Park — 250,000 protest against the bill.

13 March 1998

The Foster bill runs out of time during the report stage in the Commons.

30 May 2000

Labour MP Gordon Prentice proposes an amendment to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill to ban the sport.

28 February 2001

During a vote in the Commons, MPs vote by a majority of 179 for an outright ban.

26 March 2001

The House of Lords votes 317 to 68 against the ban. The hunting bill runs out of time when the general election is called.

June 2001

The Queen’s Speech promises another free vote on hunting in parliament.

February 2002

Scottish Parliament bans hunting in Scotland.

September 2002

400,000 join the Liberty and Livelihood March to support rural life.

3 December 2002

Alun Michael, the rural affairs minister, announces the Hunting Bill, allowing foxhunting under a strict licensing system, but which would outlaw hare coursing and stag hunting.

1 July 2003

After five hours of debate, MPs vote to change the Hunting Bill into an outright ban by 362 votes to 154.

10 July 2003

A third reading of the Hunting Bill clears the House of Commons, 317 votes to 145.

21 October 2003

A cross-party group of peers in the House of Lords throws out MPs’ plans for a complete ban and replaces them with a licensing regime for fox and stag hunting as well as hare coursing, during the committee stage. Anti-hunting MPs vote for a total ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales, but the House of Lords rejects it in a vote before the legislation runs out of parliamentary time.

8 September 2004

Government announces plans for a free vote on the Hunting Bill — leading to an outright ban — before the session ends in November.

16 September 2004

MPs vote for a ban on hunting. A group of pro-hunt demonstrators break in to the House of Commons chamber while protestors are involved in confrontations outside Parliament.

18 November 2004

Commons speaker Michael Martin invokes the Parliament Act to push the bill into law despite the Lords rejecting the bill.

28 January 2005

A High Court challenge to the law is lost by pro-hunt campaigners.

16 February 2005

The Countryside Alliance loses its appeal that the Hunting Act is unlawful.

18 February 2005

The hunting ban comes into force.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (13 November 2014).

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As the 10th anniversary of the passing of the Hunting Act approaches — on 18 November — Vote-OK is warning hunting people not to be complacent about the current survival of virtually all hunts in England and Wales.

George Bowyer, Director of Vote-OK, says a new anti organisation, “Campaign to Strengthen the Hunting Act”, is a compelling reason why hunting people should work for a Conservative victory at the impending general election. David Cameron is the only party leader offering a vote on repeal of the Act.

“Under Labour, the current status quo is the ceiling from which we would be precariously hanging by our fingertips,” said Mr Bowyer.

Tim Bonner of the Countryside Alliance added: “As we approach the general election, hunting remains an unresolved political issue that still needs to be solved.

“The Hunting Act has failed at every level. There has been no attempt by any anti-hunting organisation to show improvement in the welfare of the quarry species since the Act came in.”

After 22 attempts to ban hunting with hounds through private members’ bills, Labour introduced the first government bill to abolish the sport in England and Wales in 2001, but it ran out of time due to the Iraq war. Despite two major protest marches, and numerous other pro-hunting demonstrations, Labour reintroduced its Hunting Bill in 2004.

It was only passed on 18 November after the Blair government controversially used the Parliament Act to overcome objections from the House of Lords. It was enforced three months later on 18 February 2005. Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair has since said he believed it was a mistake.

Scotland’s anti-hunting bill was passed in 2002, but the Northern Ireland Assembly firmly rejected an attempted bill to ban hunting in the province in 2010, and is currently the only UK area where traditional hunting with hounds is legal.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (13 November 2014).

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The RSPCA appears to be showing no signs of changing its prosecution policy after it emerged that it is mounting a fresh case against the Cattistock.

William Bryer (pictured), who is joint-master and huntsman of the Cattistock, is accused of one offence of breaching the 2004 Hunting Act on 11 March this year and is to appear at Weymouth Magistrates Court later this month (27 October).

This is the first prosecution since an independent review into the RSPCA’s policy suggested that the charity needed to consider the significant costs of mounting such prosecutions.

The report, carried out by former chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Stephen Wooler, made 33 recommendations on the charity’s investigation and prosecution activity.

The Countryside Alliance (CA) argues that such prosecutions should be left to the CPS .

“It is quite extraordinary that just days after the RSPCA’s own independent review accepted that there were serious difficulties with the society bringing private prosecutions against hunts it should launch proceedings against another pack,” said the CA’s Tim Bonner.

“We are confident that the case will fail, as do 80% of prosecutions launched by the RSPCA against hunts.”

LACS prosecute

The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) has also launched a private prosecution against the Lamerton Hunt, which operates on the Devon and Cornwall border.

LACS alleges that the hunt broke the 2004 Hunting Act in an incident near Lydford in Devon on 26 March.

Six members of the hunt have been asked to appear before magistrates in Plymouth next month (21 November).

A statement from the League said it had been left with “no option” but to prosecute after Devon and Cornwall Police “failed to deal” with the evidence supplied by the charity.

“The League has obtained written independent legal advice that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that it would be in the public interest to prosecute,” it added.

However, Mr Bonner argues that the prosecution is an “ongoing campaign of harassment against the hunting community”.

“We don’t believe there is any evidence to justify a prosecution, let alone a conviction,” he told H&H.

“There is also a wider question of the abuse of ‘charitable funds’. How on earth can a charity justify wasting donations on such a pointless vendetta?”

This news stroy was first published in H&H magazine (16 October 2014).

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Three members of the College Valley and North Northumberland were found guilty of one charge under the 2004 Hunting Act yesterday (14 October).

Joint-masters Ian McKie and Timothy Smalley and kennel huntsman Andrew Proe all appeared at Berwick Magistrates Court in connection with an incident on 27 February.

The three had been secretly filmed by League Against Cruel Sports investigators during a meet of the College Valley and North Northumberland in and around West Kyloe Farm near Lowick.

District Judge Bernard Begley concluded that they had intentionally hunted a fox by encouraging hounds to chase it.

The defendants had argued they were following a legal scent trail of fox urine laid that morning and the foxes were disturbed unintentionally.

McKie was fined £1,150 and must pay a £115 victim surcharge and £385 court costs. Smalley’s fine was £2,075 with a victim surcharge of £120 and £385 court costs.

Proe must pay a £480 fine with a £48 victim surcharge and £385 costs. A fourth member was acquitted.

Tim Bonner, director of campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, said: “We are surprised by this judgement and will support the individuals from the College Valley in whatever further action they may decide to take.

“We believe that the hunt was operating openly and that no attempt was made to break the Hunting Act.”

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Autumn hunting is the busiest time of year for masters, staff, hounds and horses, who surface for a gasp of air just before the opening meet. I have, however, found time recently to watch a re-run of a fascinating BBC documentary from the Human Planet series.

It featured a mounted fox hunt with golden eagles in the most stunning countryside. It was not a scene from a hunt in the English Elysian Fields, employing the most obscure of the exemptions available within the Hunting Act 2004 — flushing to a bird of prey — but a young Kazakh, hunting in the jaw-dropping Altai mountains ranges, where they split to reveal a bleak plateau on the border of Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

The fox hardly posed a threat to the local ecology or farming practices, however its pursuit and inevitable demise had several purposes: to provide fur for clothing (although other materials are readily available) and the rite of passage for a Kazakh hunter.

The young hunter clearly took pride in his bird and enjoyed the battle of nature as he galloped down the perilous mountain-side and across the boulder strewn moonscape, holloaing to encourage his eagle.

The fox’s death was hardly glorious. In the end it had to be finished off by the handler and was therefore far longer than any swift demise by a foxhound.

A few years ago there was much mention of hunting being protected by the European Court of Human Rights as a traditional, national activity — similar to the Spanish defence of bull-fighting.

This defence came to nought, but it did highlight an important principle.

It would be naïve to suggest that the moral consensus doesn’t shift slightly between the Altai Mountains and SW1A, but the viewers are not invited to pass judgement on the young Kazakh.

Swap him for a young huntsman in the Home Counties and the chorus of disapproval would be deafening, albeit from a vocal, yet powerful minority.

Surely the rights of farmers and country people to manage and enjoy their environment responsibly and without ill-considered, prejudiced interference, should be respected.

Edging closer to repeal

Defections, exposures (literally), resignations and rumours — who would want to be a party leader?

Fortunately, the Prime Minister did have one victory to celebrate recently, even if he did have to share it with Messers Miliband, Clegg and Brown.

To promote a positive “No” campaign north of the border was never going to be easy — at times David Cameron has a tendency to apply a liberal dash of complacency to important matters — but the Tory Party’s post-Scottish Referendum strategy is arguably more coherent than any of the previous month’s stumbling.

In wrong-footing a slightly embarrassed Ed Miliband into refusing to accept “English Votes for English Laws” — and thereby protecting Labour’s unrepresentative power in Westminster over English legislation — Mr Cameron wins hands down.

In a deft manoeuvre, the Prime Minister should also snuff out the fire in Nigel Farage’s nationalist rhetoric with these reform proposals.

We are being encouraged to respect those tempted to cast their vote for the intellectually adolescent, policy-light UKIP (oops). The party’s new recruits will add to their weaponry and may even destabilise their leader, but they have yet to offer the countryside a decent set of policies.

The package of reforms to the Union outlined by Cameron will make repeal of the Hunting Act 2004 (England and Wales) increasingly possible without the army of Scottish Labour MPs instinctively voting against hunting.

A handful of “experts” and prophets of doom will always find a good reason why this can’t happen, but it is surely much closer.

The Prime Minister has set William Hague the task of recasting the Union by the General Election in May, a task which, despite his considerable talent, he is duty bound to fail. However its primary proposals should also provide a brilliant blue-print for resolving the scandalous voting imbalance in Westminster.

In passing, this will hopefully sound the death knell on the Hunting Act 2004 for England and Wales.

This comment was originally published in Horse & Hound magazine on Thursday 9 October, 2014

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The RSPCA should continue its role as a prosecuting body, so says an independent review that concluded this week.

However, the organisation has accepted it needs to adapt its approach to law enforcement.

The review was ordered in January after more than a year of criticism against the RSPCA’s legal activities.

Former chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service, Stephen Wooler, was hired to spend four months looking into how prosecutions are taken forward by the charity.

The results of the review were released today (1 October) and acknowledged the “substantial and important” role undertaken by the RSPCA in enforcing animal welfare legislation — but made 33 recommendations on its investigation and prosecution activity.

RSPCA chairman Mike Tomlinson said: “This report underlines the vital work undertaken by us and demanded by the public to investigate animal welfare issues in England and Wales, but we accept the need to adapt our approach to meet modern expectations of transparency and accountability in law enforcement.”

One of the criticisms being levelled at the RSPCA was the amount of money spent on prosecutions under the Hunting Act.

In December 2012, the RSPCA was heavily criticised by a judge for its £326,000 case against the Heythrop, which was defended in the report.

“Hunting prosecutions are a tiny part of our enforcement work but this review provides an ideal opportunity to look at the way we handle such cases and to make any necessary adjustments,” Mr Tomlinson added.

“Significantly, the review found that our prosecution of the Heythrop Hunt had been appropriately brought and was not politically motivated.

“We accept the criticism that the costs of that case were much too high and have implemented lessons learned in subsequent cases.”

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The Countryside Alliance (CA) has condemned the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) after the anti-hunting group appealed to members of the public to help catch individuals involved in illegal hunting.

LACS has offered a reward for information directly leading to a conviction under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales or the Protection of Wild Mammals Act 2002 (in Scotland).

LACS chief executive Joe Duckworth said; “Our work relies on good intelligence such as when and where illegal hunting is taking place.”

However a CA spokesman countered; “This smacks of increasing desperation from LACS, who are desperately trying to support their failing campaigns against hunting.

“Offering rewards of this kind could be seen as an incitement to further bullying and harassment of hunts as they go about their business, perfectly legally and within the Hunting Act.”

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014

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Three hunts have been facing legal proceedings in the past month, although two cases have been dropped and the other has been adjourned.

Tom Holt, joint-master of the Middleton Hunt, appeared before Scarborough Magistrates on 3 September, charged with an offence under the Hunting Act 2004.

The 28-year-old is accused of hunting a wild mammal with dogs in West Knapton, near Malton on 19 February.

Mr Holt pleaded not guilty and the case has been adjourned until 25 September.

Meanwhile, charges under the Protection of Badgers Act against three men connected to the York & Ainsty South Hunt were dropped on 8 September.

The case, brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), follows on from an allegation made by hunt saboteurs that the accused were interfering with an active badger sett during a meet at Escrick Park, near Selby, North Yorks on 28 December 2013.

“This case was based on completely spurious allegations made by animal rights activists, but there was no credible evidence that the sett was being used by anything other than foxes,” said the Countryside Alliance’s Tim Bonner.

“The three men were carrying out legal hunting within the terms of the Hunting Act.”

The CPS has also confirmed that all charges relating to members of the Melbreak Hunt — including their huntsman Edward Liddle — have also been dropped following an offence that allegedly took place under the Hunting Act and Dangerous Dog Act in Buttermere, Cumbria on 9 March.

Tim Bonner said: “Mr Liddle and the Melbreak cooperated fully with the police inquiries from the start and there was never any evidence that Mr Liddle had been in breach of either act, therefore we were surprised when Cumbria Constabulary chose to pursue their inquiries. It was even more inexplicable when the CPS then chose to bring charges against Mr Liddle.

“There was no chance that the case could ever have proceeded to a conviction and all it has achieved is a waste of police and court time and tax-payers’ money, and has put Mr Liddle through a completely unnecessary process.

“The Melbreak has operated within the law since the Hunting Act came into force and has huge support from the local community. We are very confident that their activities are entirely legitimate.”

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014

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The latest figures released by the Ministry of Justice show 110 people were charged and 56 found guilty of an offence under the Hunting Act 2004 during 2013 — but just 6 people allied to registered hunts have been convicted.

The figures — which exceed the previous high of 92 in 2009 — have been labelled misleading by countryside campaigners.

A Countryside Alliance spokesperson said that “these figures were further evidence that the Hunting Act is flawed, as so many of the cases brought under the Hunting Act do not actually involve hunts and could have been prosecuted under other legislation.”

This news-in-brief was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (17 July, 2014)

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Government plans to vote on overturning the hunting ban look likely to be abandoned.

In the Coalition agreement, it was stated that MPs would be given a free vote on the Hunting Act.

But senior Conservatives have now reportedly decided there is “no point” holding a vote before next year’s general election, as it is thought that most MPs support the ban.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has also said that even if the vote went ahead, the Liberal Democrats would not agree to scrap the Act.

The Hunting Act was introduced by Labour in 2004 and no amendments have been made to it since.

“Reports the Government may not fulfil its promise of a free vote on repeal are no surprise, given the lack of any agreement on the future of hunting in Parliament,” said the Countryside Alliance’s Tim Bonner.

“It would be pointless starting a debate just a year before the next election. But the hunting ban remains a pointless law, which the Government has done nothing to improve in the past 4 years.”

Earlier this year, H&H reported that the Hunting Act is unlikely to change any time soon, after the Prime Minister said it was doubtful a Government agreement would be reached.

Welsh hill farmers argued that a change was needed due to an increase in fox attacks

on lambs.

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A quarter of a million people are expected to turn out today (26 December) to support hunts on their biggest day of the calendar — the Boxing Day meet.

More than 250 hunts across the UK will be holding the traditional festive meet, as rural disquiet over the Government’s failure to tackle the Hunting Act grows.

Support for hunting — now in its ninth season under the ban — is holding firm, with 250,000 people due to take part today, whether mounted, following on foot or quad bike, or simply turning out to enjoy a drink and take in the atmosphere.

Speaking ahead of the annual spectacle, Countryside Alliance executive chairman Sir Barney White-Spunner said:

“We have less than 18 months left in this Parliament but the Government is still to make good many of its promises to the countryside — not least the pledge of support to hunting.”

The Coalition Government agreement included a commitment to a vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act.

DEFRA has also said it will consider a proposal from farmers to amend the law to make it easier to flush and shoot foxes — a crucial amendment, they say, as the lambing season approaches.

Sir Barney added: “Tackling the failed Hunting Act is a matter of trust between David Cameron, the coalition Government and the countryside. In three and a half years, the Government has done nothing to address this illiberal, unjust and divisive law.

“The arguments for repeal or replacement of the ban are unarguable. Proposals to amend the ban backed by science have been brought forward and there is solid support in Parliament.

“Doing nothing is not an acceptable option.”

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