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Support for ban on hunting is strong
Wednesday 27th February 2008, 3:45PM GMT.
Overwhelming public support for the hunting ban ridicules opposition’s call for repeal.
New polling figures released on the third anniversary of the ban on hunting with dogs reveal that the vast majority of people do not want hunting wild animals – foxes, deer and hare – with dogs to be made legal again, and think hunters should obey the law.
The Ipsos MORI polls, released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the League Against Cruel Sports and the RSPCA, show more than seven out of 10 people in Britain (71 per cent) believe that hunters should not be allowed to break the law.
Furthermore, 73 per cent do not want fox hunting to be made legal again. Eight in 10 (81 per cent) were opposed to bringing back deer hunting, and 82 per cent were opposed to changing the law to allow hare hunting or coursing.
Sir Robert Worcester, founder of MORI, said “Before the ban was introduced, public support for a ban in our surveys typically ranged between 2:1 to 3:1 in favour – so this latest figure suggests that this pattern is continuing.”
A MORI poll conducted in January 2002, before the ban, also revealed 72 per cent of the public think fox hunting should be illegal.
Judi Hewitt, North West Hunt Saboteurs Association
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My faith in human nature is restored.
Get ready for the blood lust fraternity to give us the usual: job losses,dogs put down,way of life, keeping the fox population downetc,etc.
Heres to another 100years of the ban.
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BALDERDASH – overwhelming public support for a ban on hunting – errr…. have I missed something here ?!! When was I or others ever consulted ?
Polls are no way a measure of what is really popular or unpopular in the UK.
The public, as with much else nowadays, were never EVER asked either way on this matter – in New Labour’s inimitable style they rail-roaded it through Parliament and then made it law.
I can think of 1001 things that are more important than banning hunting.
BRING THE HUNTS BACK ASAP !!!
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I do not see your point, polling is only ever a snapshot of the thoughts of those few people questioned, based on the formulation of the questions asked.
When we vote for a government all of us have the opportunity to give our opinion based on the policies each party offers.
If polling were to mean anything we would be holding a referendum on the EU Constitution, but the wishes of the people as clearly expressed in many polls is simply been ignored by a government which was elected on a firm promise to hold a referendum.
Please remember we do not elect pressure groups.
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what a load of old rubbish being spouted if the majority of people do not want the ban overturned why worry?? why moan about the people trying to over turn it ?? it will not happen will it ??lets face it the vast majority of people do not care one jott about the ban you get the odd numpty moaning about red coats and horses, more than moaning about the wellfare of the fox, the fox dies no matter how it all ends its classed as vermin end of ,why people moan is beyond me , i suppose they have social issues etc ,the hunters stay with in the law no problem there so why keep on bleating on about it ????.im sure our friends in blue would be on to it if they were not look at the amount of prosecutions etc hardly hard core crime figure is it .
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Now let me think, should I trust distinguished and veteran student of public opinion Sir Robert Worcester, or the kind of rabid right wingers who tend to inhabit these letter pages? Hmmmm.
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Aah, “rabid right wingers”, that’s everybody with an alternative point of view which doesn’t completely align with those of europhiles, multiculturalists and of course, the anti-hunt lobby. Frankly, I abhor zealots and you will find plenty of them amongst the anti-hunt lobby, living comfortably in towns like Telford where you’ll never see a fox hunt, but where homelessness has increased significantly under the very government which took so much time and trouble to deliver the hunting ban (God bless David Wright for his concern for the welfare of foxes,) but then we’re talking about human misery, a far less pleasant or fashionable topic. Hmmmmm. No contest, I guess.
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in response to Ian Payne’s comment-When was I or others ever consulted ?
Answer-when the hunting ban was part of New Labour’s election manifesto of2001,which they won I believe?
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I am a Socialist Katy !! Never judge a writer by his political persuausion !!!
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When are these pro hunting people going to understand that the majority of people in this country detest animal cruelty and that encompasses hunting wild animals for pleasure.
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I agree with Katy.Her observation is pretty accurate
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what a load of rubbish! Hunting is a way of life! Thousands are/were employed in hunting jobs that
have been laid off because of this stupid ban! As for saying that there is more support for a ban this is purely not true more people would not want a ban than would want a ban let me quote the figure of
59% in favour of not banning hunting! So before you write an article about such subject get your
facts right! HUNTING ROCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!
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No its not Grey !!! I believe in the death penalty yet I am a Socialist in essence. I also know Labour voters who have stronger views on immigration than Tory voters for example. Like I said in previous statement – never judge a writer by his or her political persuasion !!!
Life is never black and white, there is also a large chunk of grey around as well !!!
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IAN PAYNE-you’ve obviously need to get your political beliefs sorted out.It seems you are one confused person.
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HUNTING ROCKS??? And there was me thinking they were doing us all a public service to rid us of the rampant plague of the fox(or any other animal that has the misfortune to get in there way)
What these yobs dont understand is that people find it disturbing and repulsive that anybody can gain such pleasure from inflicting pain and suffering on an animal. But at least they appear to be coming clean now by admitting they hunt out of pleasure and not dress it up as some sort of pest control. What next bring back bear baiting,cock fighting etc?
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Seems grey doesn’t feature in your life then john !!!
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