Downing Street has rebuked Nigel Farage for labeling ministers as “authoritarian control freaks” due to their proposal to outlaw trail hunting.
Trail hunting involves laying a scent trail for the hunt to follow instead of hunting real animals. It was introduced as an alternative to fox hunting, which was prohibited by the Labour Party in 2004.
Campaigners have persistently warned that foxes are still subjected to brutal attacks by dogs during hunts, with claims from Devon and Cornwall’s assistant Chief Constable, Matt Longman, stating that trail hunting is often a cover for illegal fox hunting.
Labour has pledged to ban this inhumane practice as part of its Animal Welfare Strategy, which was revealed recently. However, the Conservatives and Reform UK have strongly opposed this decision.
Mr. Farage, known for participating in Boxing Day hunts, criticized the government’s move, calling it an intrusion on rural traditions. Downing Street refuted claims of being control freaks, emphasizing that they are fulfilling their manifesto commitments.
Animal welfare advocates have applauded Labour’s progressive Animal Welfare Strategy, including the ban on trail hunting, though they have expressed concerns about the lack of specific timelines for implementing these changes.
The government has unveiled a comprehensive set of policies aimed at enhancing the well-being of pets and animals in various settings. These initiatives include ending the cruelty of puppy farms, exploring the prohibition of electric shock collars for pets, cracking down on dog attacks on farm animals, and outlawing trail hunting.
Despite the absence of a clear timeline for executing these measures, the government aims to have the strategy in effect by the end of 2030.
Owen Sharp, the CEO of the Dogs Trust, commended the strategy but stressed the importance of timely implementation, particularly regarding measures to combat puppy smuggling.
Green MP Adrian Ramsay emphasized the necessity for concrete deadlines within the Animal Welfare Strategy to ensure effective outcomes for animals.
No10 confirmed that a consultation on trail hunting will commence next year and assured that all recommendations from Baroness Minette Batters’ farm profitability review will be considered.