Stop the Drag Hunting Smokescreen

Drag hunting: the next smokescreen

(If for some reason your browser will not open your email client, please copy the text below and send to Baroness Sue Hayman - haymans@parliament.uk)

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Dear Baroness Hayman and Emma Reynolds MP,

I am writing as a concerned member of the public to urge you to ensure that any ban on trail hunting also addresses the risk of drag hunting becoming the next loophole exploited by the hunting industry.

According to reporting on recently leaked documents from the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), there are reasons to be concerned that drag hunting could be presented as a solution while, in practice, being used to delay or weaken meaningful reform. The reported documents raise the possibility that drag hunting could be used as a smokescreen rather than representing a genuine transition away from hunting live wild mammals.

The Times has reported that a note written by BHSA chairman Viscount Astor proposed that hunts offer to convert to drag hunting by 2028. According to the newspaper, the note stated that this would allow the minister to claim victory without the immediate need for legislation and that, by the time any bill was produced, the country would be close to the next general election. If accurately reported, these comments could reasonably be interpreted as suggesting that offering drag hunting might be viewed as a way to delay legislative reform rather than implement it.

The Times also reported that leaked minutes show the BHSA engaged lobbying firm CT Group, which identified around 100 Labour MPs in rural marginal seats as key targets, with the aim of making support for a ban politically more difficult. The newspaper further reported that the BHSA had raised around £650,000 towards a £3 million lobbying campaign.

Defra's consultation press release stated that drag hunting and clean-boot hunting should continue to thrive. In light of the reported BHSA documents, I hope the Government will carefully consider whether any future legislation is robust enough to prevent alternative forms of hunting from being used to undermine Parliament's intentions.

I hope you will act to protect wildlife by ensuring that any reforms are effective in practice and cannot be circumvented through unintended loopholes.

Yours sincerely,

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Drag hunting: the next smokescreen

(If for some reason your browser will not open your email client, please copy the text below and send to Baroness Sue Hayman - haymans@parliament.uk)

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