Is Cameron scared of the hunting issue?

[jake-the-peg]

The country seems rather split on the hunting issue - personally Idont feelstrongly about it but I seem to be a minority.

But Cameron has a history of going hunting himself, has described the ban in very unfavourable terms but is not actually committing himself to overturning it.

Just to offer a free vote

Is he cared of the anti-voting lobby or is he just being wishy-washy and not having the courage of his convictions - he was after all elected by his party to provide leadership - not free votes

[Sqad]

jake.......I agree with Zac.

Why should he address it? It is illegal. But it still goes on.

Hunting Ban? Bottom of the "to do" file for Cameron.

[naomi24]

It hasn't had much effect around here, but I think he's in an awkward position. There are few politicians who have the courage of their convictions. They'll all make the right noises if it means gaining votes. Whichever way he goes, it won't deter the hunters from voting Conservative.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes but it might deter some of the non-hunters for voting - I find you can't guess where people stand on this one - doesn't seem to split down normal party lines.

Probably a small majority Labour anti-hunt and a small majority Tory-Pro I find.

It may be that unpredictability thats so scary for politicians

[Quinlad]

I'd be very surprised if Cameron repeals it, or even offers a free vote. He's worked hard to dispel the caricature of the Tories as the nasty party. Passing legislation to allow a fluffy little fox to get torn apart won't look good.

I'm not that bothered about the rights and wrongs of hunting but I'm glad to see it outlawed, just for the sake of a level playing field. At the risk of sounding all 'class warrior', if hunting had been a predominantly working class past-time does anyone think for a second it would have been legal for as long as it was?

[R1Geezer]

Jake, how desperate are you getting to *** off Cameron? only few nutters could care less about what the Hoorays are doing on horses. FFS hunting has thrived since the "ban" as It's a virtually un enforcaable law anyway. Just accept it, Noo labour is over! Just as Labour never overturned the union laws Cameron will leave this well alone, the current framing of the law makes it almost impossible to prosecute anyway. Plod couldn't give a monkeys. I believe there has been a private prosecution attempt and that's it. Get used to the idea of opposition jake, I'll put you Brown ale in mate!

[jake-the-peg]

Labours up 2% in the Polls and Geezer's getting spooked already!

[R1Geezer]

well let's just call an election then!

[ludwig]

Jake, I'm not being funny, but is this news? Has Cameron, or anyone else actually said anything about hunting lately? Why on earth would he want to? Things are tootling along nicely with the ban in place and everyone ignoring it and no-one particularly caring. With everything else that's happening, ie the economy and the war this is not one of the issues that the election will be fought on.

[Kromovaracun]

[For the record, I oppose the ban on the grounds that I'm unconvinced by any of the arguments for it, and I strongly dislike Cameron but how we feel on it isn't really Jake's question]

I imagine Cameron's personal opinion is against the ban, but he has no real reason to make waves on the issue - and as others have said, it's an issue that's largely retreated in importance. He's comfortably ahead in the polls and most people reckon he has the next election in his pocket. He simply has not much to gain and a lot to lose by opening a divisive can of worms. Cameron's strategy - completely understandably - is to sit back and let the political tide do its work, but making controversial noises could well jeopardize his position.

[123everton]

"As the old industries die out, new ones will rise up to take their place" Thatcher, the hunting ban was going to spell the end of the world when it was enacted the Tories screamed, how times change. Funny that.
I don't see how the ban is unenforceable, scores of people quaffing brandy on horse back dressed in brightly coloured clothes blowing trumpets with 40 odd dogs barking, they must blend right in.

[R1Geezer]

yes everton but the law is framed in such a way that they have to prove that the intent was originally to kill the fox. virtually impossible, they'd need undercover cops on horse back videoing and recording conversations. QED, plod has more important crime to chase.

[R1Geezer]

It's quite legal to go riding in fancy dress with some dogs!

[rov1200]

I was under the impression that when they voted for the hunting bill it was a free vote although I could be wrong. I do remember there were many Tories opposed to hunting including Ann Widdecombe.

OnlY this week it was reported that horse-owners were trying to get rid of their horses as not many people can afford to keep them. In future therefore most of the riders will come under the toff category as it will no longer be a middle class pursuit.

Actually I do not object to fox-hunting as such its just the number of hounds they use. Why don't they restrict the number to a maximum of 6 just like they did when only allowing 6 pickets to blockade a company?

[jake-the-peg]

It was on the news this morning - not quite sure why it was topical.

It's nice seeing more hares in the fields on my way into work but I certainly don't get as worked up about it as many people do.

However I do find the attitude expressed by some hunters disturbing when they talk about unworkable laws.

It seems to be - you are having difficulty getting evidence to bring sucessful prosecutions so you should make it legal.

It's often difficult to get evidence to bring rape and domestic violence prosecutions to a sucessful conviction too but nobody seems to think that a good reason to decriminalise these.

[LoftyLottie]

What I care about most of all, living in the middle of the country in a county with a strong hunting traditions is the fact that the riders on horses and their hounds seem to be at liberty to do what they like whilst on public roads and pathways. They are a positive danger and if I did the same by letting my dogs run at random all over the public highway without collars and out of control I would be penalised. So, I don't want them back under any circumstances - and besides they had very little to do with controlling foxes - it's just a jolly for the lot of them.

Yours angrilly

LL