Hoey speaks out against ban
Kate Hoey has spoken out against the ban on hunting.
Hunting with hounds was officially outlawed on Friday after a legal attempt to overturn the ban failed.
The ban was hailed by animal welfare groups who believe that it time fox hunting will become a thing of the past – like such activities as bear baiting.
The RSPCA and the League Against Cruel Sports will be sending monitors to hunt meeting to ensure that the law is not being broken, and to videotape evidence if it is.
Hunts though have vowed to keep meeting, with the vast majority saying they will continue to hunt within the law.
The Labour MP was speaking at the Duke of Beaufort’s hunt at Worcester Lodge, Gloucestershire.
Thousands of pro-hunt supporters were in attendance to hear Ms Hoey call members of her own party who supported the foxhunting ban “prejudiced and bigoted”.
“I have met more people this morning from different cultures and backgrounds than I have met on the backbenches of the House of Commons,” she added.
“I feel a deep sadness that my Government has allowed this ban to go through.
“But I have confidence in my country and the people of my country that an unjust law cannot last very long.
“Today is the beginning of the end of the ban on hunting and we must all make sure that the structures, the infrastructures, everything about hunting carries on.”
She then condemned “naivety and ignorance of some of my party members, but who said this piece of law was about animal welfare?”
The MP for Vauxhall in south London, who voted against the ban, urged members of the countryside community to continue their protests.
“This ban cannot work, this law is unenforceable. This law is unjust,”
She added: “We will prevail and this law will have to be overturned.”
