Milton Keynes shoppers joined animal welfare campaigners from the League Against Cruel Sports on Saturday in calling for tighter hunting laws.
The charity chose Milton Keynes to host the fourth in a series of roadshows it’s holding across the UK during the run-up to the general election, urging voters and candidates alike to unite against hunting.
Shoppers joined Vinny the fox, the voice of the campaign, outside Milton Keynes Central railway station, and sent hundreds of emails to their election candidates asking them to make their views on the Hunting Act public.
The League receives hundreds of reports every year that fox hunts are still chasing and killing foxes, 14 years after the hunting ban came into force.
Chris Luffingham, Director of Campaigns of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The people we spoke to at Milton Keynes were incredibly supportive, and it backed up what we know from YouGov polling that the vast majority of the UK public are opposed to hunting.
“It was gratifying to see election candidates of all colours coming along to find out more about what we’re asking for, or to pledge their support.
Never miss news or leisure info in Milton Keynes - Follow us on www.twitter.com/thisistotalmk
And on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thisistotalmk
“This general election we stand united against hunting. Political parties need to commit to closing the loopholes and removing the exemptions that the fox hunts are currently exploiting, backing this up with an effective deterrent – giving courts the chance to not just fine but imprison those convicted of hunting offences.”
Alan Francis, Milton Keynes South candidate for the Green Party, stopped by the stall to meet Vinny and pledge his support.
The League’s election survey asks candidates the following questions:
Do you support securing the hunting ban by keeping the Hunting Act 2004 in place and opposing any weakening of the ban?
Do you support strengthening the Hunting Act 2004 by closing loopholes, removing exemptions and introducing custodial sentences?
The League will be publishing all responses over the coming weeks on its dedicated campaign website, unitedagainsthunting.co.uk, where people can also take action themselves.
Chris added: “We’re hoping tens of thousands of members of the public will contact general election candidates right up until December 12 to seek their views on fox hunting as the League launches its general election campaign calling on all parties to strengthen the Hunting Act.”
There are 191 fox hunts operating in Britain today, 14 years after the Hunting Act 2004 was enacted that outlawed the practice.
In total, hunts can go out almost 10,700 times a year – and each time a fox’s life is put at risk.
