IFAW: The coalition’s first 100 days

As an organisation that works to promote the welfare and conservation of animals both at home and abroad, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) saw mixed messages in the coalition agreement.

Internationally, the coalition has commendably pledged to oppose the resumption of commercial whaling, press for a ban on ivory sales, and tackle the smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife.

The coalition has been good to its word on whaling, with the UK Government playing an instrumental part in the rejection of a dangerous deal at the International Whaling Commission in June that would have seen commercial whaling legitimised for the first time in decades. The coming months and years will see the coalition’s pledge to protect elephants from the ivory trade tested as further moves to lessen protection for elephants are already being planned by some southern African countries.

Domestic wildlife looks to be much less safe in the coalition’s hands, however, with a promise to cull badgers and a pledge to hold ‘a free vote enabling the House of Commons to express its view on the repeal of the Hunting Act’. Both moves are deeply unpopular with the British public, as demonstrated in the Government’s own summary of public responses to the coalition agreement. In its publication of public responses, the Government acknowledged that its pledge to have a free vote on possible repeal of the Hunting Act ‘was the subject that received most comments overall’ on Defra issues and that ‘the majority of responses were opposed to repealing the Hunting Act’.

IFAW believes repeal of the Hunting Act would be a backward step for a civilised society. Hunting with dogs was consigned to the history books because the majority of the public found it abhorrent. Those calling for repeal of this law are effectively calling for a return to cruelty.

The Hunting Act is clear – it is designed to protect Britain’s wild animals from the cruelty of being chased and torn apart by dogs. The law is clearly enforceable – more than 130 people have so far been successfully prosecuted under the Hunting Act, with more cases pending. Prosecutions under the Hunting Act compare very favourably with other wildlife legislation.

No date has yet been set for the vote and IFAW hopes the coalition will reconsider the folly of such a step. However, that seems unlikely, so when the vote comes, IFAW hopes that MPs across the political spectrum will represent the views of the compassionate majority in this country that does not wish to see a return to cruelty.