Why is fox hunting at the top of the Tories' agenda?
SO David Cameron would have us believe that the Conservative Party is the progressive party.
He famously talked of loving his country "as it is now" and not as it was in some bygone era (he spoke of this in his acceptance speech).
So why is fox hunting, as pointed out by Mr R. Pollard's excellent letter (November 25), and inheritance tax at the top of his party's agenda, 'if' they get back in power.
I thought I had seen the last of this cruel, outdated, rich man's romp – but not if Dave gets his way.
He and his multi-millionaire shadow cabinet – 18 out of 32 are millionaire's and are soon to get richer, when they raise the threshold on inheritance tax – will be happy to let the 'tradition' of tearing around the countryside, scaring all animals in their way and the ultimate murder of the fox, recommence.
While the world comes out of a major recession, it's ironic that the Tories have fox hunting and inheritance tax at the top of their wish list. Feathering their own nest comes to mind.
Current Labour MP Gillian Merron has explained where she stands on these two issues.
So, Karl McCartney – as the Tory who wants to replace her at the next election – the ball is in your court.
Mr K. Bean Lincoln.
That Gillian Merron (November 25) continues to support the Hunting Act may come as a surprise to Ms Merron herself.
I note that she failed to sign the recent Early Day Motion requesting the Act to be strengthened.
Mr Pollard then states 'if the latest MORI poll is to be believed'.
Given that the polling methods used were less than scientific, I suggest not.
Hunt vigilantes have not assisted in more than 50 convictions.
Since the Act was introduced in 2005, there have been three hunts convicted of illegal hunting – out of tens of thousand of days' legal hunting in the last five seasons – and none at all in the last two years.
If Mr Pollard is aware that the law is being flouted by hunts, perhaps he should approach the police with hard evidence rather than making spurious allegations in a local newspaper.
Finally, your correspondent's argument that the Hunting Act was anything to do with animal welfare is laughable.
It has not saved the life of a single fox as it is still legal to kill foxes.
But rather than meeting the instantaneous death from the jaws of a hound, they must be shot and perhaps only wounded instead.
Andrew Ogg Spalford.
8 Comments
by Kevin, Lincoln
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 1:08PM
“The amount of parilamentary time that has been spent on fox hunting is an absolute scandal. Is this really such a major issue? This is such a marginal interest - does anyone really care beyond a few extremists (on both sides)? Stop wasting precious debating time on this nonsense and tackle the real issues!”
by Emma Wasp, Lincoln
Friday, December 04 2009, 3:16PM
“What about them? What about UKIP? Or the Greens? Or Lincoln Socialist's Socialist Party of Lincoln?
If you don't have a response, don't respond. Mentioning a minority party for no reason whatsoever is just stupid.”
by Emma Bee, Lincoln
Friday, December 04 2009, 2:41PM
“And the Jury Team???”
by Emma Wasp, Lincoln
Friday, December 04 2009, 12:30PM
“Normally you'd be right, but this is far beyond demeaning.
As for my human rights, how about the right to privacy? Which means, you know, not having your emails and phone calls logged and monitored by the government. But wait, let me guess, those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear - isn't that right, citizen?
You might be willing to loll about in your boggle-eyed socialist dreamworld whilst NuLabour tramples the idea of liberty in the mud, but fortunately some of us aren't quite so gullible and/or gutless.”
by Emma Bee, Lincoln
Friday, December 04 2009, 11:54AM
“Emma, I think the term is "demeans us all".
So which piece of anti terrorist law sticks in your gullett?
Where have your human rights been diminished?
That's right they haven't.
And if the government had done nothing then you would be the first to criticise.
Another armchair critic.
You'll be banging on about the Jury Team next!”
by Emma Wasp, Lincoln
Friday, December 04 2009, 11:13AM
“Yes, Norman. Of course they would send children down mines and up chimneys. Obviously that's going to happen. It's right there in their manifesto and all well within EU rules so there shouldn't be any problem whatsoever. As for closing coal mines, Labour closed far more than Thatcher did. And yes, that is a fact, albeit not one that Labour seem keen to have made common knowledge, for some reason.
As for chasing us, has the huge raft of prying, snooping and generally anti-libertarian legislation introduced by Labour (AKA "anti-terrorism" laws) passed you by? Or were you just conveniently ignoring it in your weaksauce attempt to score political points?
Finally, try not to give in to the politics of envy so easily and transparently. It degrades us all.”
by Norman, Lincoln
Thursday, December 03 2009, 4:59PM
“Never mind the progressive and reasonable image dear old David Cameron likes to project. The fact of the matter is that he leads a party of people with values that are firmly rooted in the nineteenth century. Not only would they make fox hunting legal again but more than likely send small children up chimneys and down coal mines, that is if the last Tory Government had not of shut all of the coal mines down.
Mind you, I suppose if they are out chasing foxes they wont have time left to chase the rest of us.
Who was it that said that fox hunting represented 'The unspeakable chasing the uneatable'?
Anyone for stuffed quail on a crouton served with port wine sauce?”
by Mr Sneer, Derision on the Wold
Thursday, December 03 2009, 9:26AM
“Mr Ogg, surely you aren't accusing Merron of saying one thing and doing the other? Don't you know she is a first class MP with an impeccable voting record? I mean, it must be true - all the Labour Party supporters say so!”