‘Fox hunting is still happening right now: it must be stopped’; Labour announces plans to strengthen anti- fox hunting legislation 

A wave of recent allegations against huntsmen has reinvigorated campaigns to close existing loopholes, prohibit trail hunting and stop illegal fox hunters for good. 

In 2021, district Judge Tan Ikram spoke of “the mirage of trail laying to act as cover for old fashioned illegal hunting”, whilst just last month the National Police Lead for Fox Hunting, Chief Superintendent Matt Longman, said that killing foxes with packs of hounds is “prolific in the UK”. 

Toby has received several emails from constituents who are concerned that laws prohibiting fox hunting are being ignored. They have called for tougher action and for loopholes to be tightened.  

The Conservative government have set out that they will not take any further actions around fox-hunting legislation.  

Toby stated: “Fox hunting is a cruel, barbaric practice and despite being banned nearly 20 years ago, there are still incidents occurring today”.  

He added “This is an issue which many local residents have raised with me as they strongly believe that the out-lawing of this practice should have meant the end of such acts of cruelty”. 

“Labour has committed to introducing stronger and more robust legislation to clamp down on this cruel sport which disrupts traffic, threatens livestock and most importantly severely breaches the welfare of wild mammals”.  

In December, Jim McMahon, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said:  

“The government must do more to close the loopholes that allow people to break the law, and to consign hunting to the history books.  

“Labour is the party of animal welfare and in government we will go further to protect animal welfare by putting an end to trail hunting.”