Mike Hobday
MP Shapps cornered over fox hunting debate
By Chris Richards, Reporter
Saturday, January 9, 2010
11:00 AM
PARLIAMENTARY hopeful Mike Hobday has accused MP Grant Shapps of supporting plans to repeal the ban on fox hunting.
Mr Hobday, the Labour prospective MP for Welwyn Hatfield, hit out after Tory leader David Cameron said he would give MPs a free vote on repealing the Hunting Act should his party win power at the next General Election.
Mr Hobday said: “Grant has been very critical of the Hunting Act, so the strong implication is that he falls into the same category as 99 per cent of Conservatives of wanting to repeal the Act and allow the cruelty to resume.”
Under the Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2004, hounds are permitted to flush out a fox, but cannot kill it.
And Mr Hobday, a former head of public affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, is keen to see the Act remain in place.
“I think fox hunting is a cruel and unnecessary activity,” he said.
“It is wrong in a modern society for people to get pleasure out of allowing animal suffering.”
Responding to the allegation that he has been critical of the Act, Mr Shapps said he was not a fan of the way in which it was passed through Parliament.
“The Hunting Act was passed using the Parliament Act, which has only been used four times in history - three of which were under Tony Blair when he was Prime Minister,” he said.
Mr Shapps admitted fox hunting was an issue that aroused “very strong” passions.
But he stressed he had not yet decided how he would vote should the opportunity to repeal the Act arise.
He told the WHT: “If and when a relevant vote comes before the House I will consider the options, which might include a variety of possibilities including some form of licensing, a total ban or lifting of the law – and no doubt several other options.
“I will listen to the arguments on both sides come that time.”
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6 comments
Mike Hobday is obviously all about one issue, he is an avid anti-hunter and this is the ONLY reason he is trying to get into Parliament. Do we really want an animal rights extremist in Parliament?! I was very impressed to see that this MP (Grant Shapps, Conservative) did not abuse the expenses system and obviously does not have a second home. Lets keep Mr Shapps MP in his seat as he is doing the good job for all, not focusing on one minor issue.
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Peter
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Now doesn't Mike Hobday have something to do with the LACS so his prime motive is anti hunting more so than the good of the people that might vote for him, the poll that produced this result was instigated by the LACS so no surprise what the result would have been. I have seen many other papers that have held a poll where the opposite was the result. The Conservative candidate has more important things to consider than just Foxhunting and all Labout want to fight the Election over is Foxhunting as they have made such a cockup of the Country by this unelected Prime Minister. So Hobday get your priorities right or you might be Hobdayed (a horsey term)
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Nebhunting
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Of course Mr. Shapps does not want to reveal his views on fox-hunting before the election. After all of the information leading up to the hunting act - suddenly this man needs to wait to listen to the arguments? The 'some form of licensing' he is referring to has already been drafted by his friends in the bloodsports lobby (Countryside Alliance) in readiness for Cameron's repeal and does nothing to protect these poor animals. There is no case for repeal. Hunt numbers are up all over the country. Drag hunting is legal. The sense of community, pageantry, heritage, and jobs are all still intact and yet these disgraceful people can’t manage to enjoy themselves unless they are terrifying and killing animals. Please - if you support the hunting act, get your names on the R.O.A.R. (Register Online Against Repeal), an ‘all party’ list at: http:www.campaignfordecency.org.uk Please make your voices heard!
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mhayworth
Saturday, January 9, 2010
There are no grounds for a repeal. 77 % of the public, from all social classes, oppose hunting with hounds as a cruel, perverse and outdated past time. Living in a democracy means accepting the majority vote and the legal, cruelty-free, alternative of drag hunting.
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TP2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Grant's u-turn is very welcome. Two years ago, he was supporting a pledge to relegalise this form of animal cruelty http:www.shapps.comforumindex.php?topic=1372.msg16622#msg16622
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Mike Hobday
Saturday, January 9, 2010
"Mr Shapps admitted fox hunting was an issue that aroused “very strong” passions. But he stressed he had not yet decided how he would vote should the opportunity to repeal the Act arise." Mr Shapps is being a bit naughty here, for everybody knows that enormous pressure will be put on Conservative MPs, particularly ambitious ones, 'to toe the party line' which, in this case, is being dictated by the all-powerful Countryside Alliance. We need to strengthen the fox hunting and hare coursing ban so that we can be sure that chasing and killing wild animals for fun is clearly and for ever unlawful and regarded by all with well-deserved revulsion. If they know what's good for them politically, Cameron, Hague, Herbert & Co. should, at the very least, promise to let sleeping dogs lie.
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Geoffrey Woollard
Saturday, January 9, 2010