MP pledges to vote against repeal of Hunting Act
Hemsworth MP, Jon Trickett has been a strong supporter of the Hunting Act since it was brought in by the Labour Government in 2004. The Act prohibits all hunting done with the assistance of dogs in
Along with 75% of the British public, Mr. Trickett believes that hunting with dogs for recreational purposes is a repugnant practice that should not be endorsed by government. Since the law was instituted, more than 130 people have been prosecuted for violating the act. This statistic shows that there is still a need for the existence of the Hunting Act to safeguard against cruel and inhumane treatment of wild animals.
To show his discontent with the possibility of repealing the Hunting Act of 2004, Mr. Trickett has signed an Early Day Motion on the following lines:
That this House reaffirms its support for the Hunting Act 2004 and notes that there have been almost 140 convictions under the Act; recognises that the vast majority of the public support the Act across all regional, political, social and religious divides; and therefore believes that any attempt to repeal the Act would be a retrograde step and out of keeping with a civilised society.
Jon Trickett said:
Repealing the Hunting Act would be a purely archaic and uncivilized action. The Coalition’s main argument in debating the issue is that the number of people prosecuted for violating this piece of wildlife legislation is low. This is simply not true. To date, more than 130 individuals have been charged under the terms of the Act, with more cases pending trial. By repealing the Act, the British government would be endorsing a regression in the promotion and protection of animal welfare.