Loud calls for hunting ban in England

The animal rights organization League Against Cruel Sports has called for the law to be tightened as promised and for custodial sentences to be introduced. The riders in their red jackets and their packs of dogs attract numerous onlookers, especially on Boxing Day. In recent years, however, there have also been fierce clashes between opponents and supporters in various places, particularly in the south of England.

Animal rights activists accused hunters of using loopholes to hunt real animals. They cited hundreds of incidents since August alone, when the hunting season began.

The responsible environment ministry agreed with this view. "This government was elected with a mandate to introduce the most ambitious animal welfare plans for a generation and that is exactly what we will do," a spokesman told the British news agency PA. "We are campaigning for a ban on tracking, which is used as a cover for the cruel killing of foxes and hares."

Hunters accuse government of class warfare

The hunters strongly rejected the accusations. There were only a few, unintentional infringements. Their representative body, the Countryside Alliance, warned that further changes to the law were "completely unjustified". People were engaged in a legal activity that strengthened the rural community and brought much-needed income to village stores and pubs. Alliance leader Tim Bonner said the social democratic ruling Labour party was getting bogged down in a class war that few people in the country supported.