politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Suggesting that the foxhunting ban could be lifted – TMay’s biggest campaign mistake so far
Fox hunting is one of those issues which a small number of people on either side of the argument feel very strongly about. It is something on that could change votes for those with firm views.
Those who care strongly enough to make it a driver of their vote are already on either the Tory (pro-liberty) or the left (anti-toff) side.
This won't change a single vote.
But it will unlock significant campaigning muscle from the countryside lobby - that has been very helpful to the Tories in the last 2 elections.
Exactly. This or a similar pledge was made in 2015 and 2010, and they don't keep making it because it doesnt work.
This is another of those issues where people have a view, but it has next to no influence on the way they vote. The number of people that are anti-hunt enough to change from May to Corbyn is the square root of tiny.
I am sure urban LDs hate it, but they were never going to vote Tory anyway.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, is trying to get David Davis the sack by allowing negative briefings about him, the Brexit secretary has claimed.
It should also be noted that while a similar pledge was made in 2010 and 2015, such a vote has never in those years reached the floor of the Commons, and there is no reason to suspect that it will in the next parliament. I am sure the leadership of the CA are aware of this, its a about the Tories telling the CA that they feel their pain and they are on their side (without actually doing anything) and the CA having something to point at to get their troops out knocking on doors.
This is a base issue, nothing more. The bar graphs tell you nothing. What you need to measure here is salience. My guess is that 80% do indeed wish to retain the ban on fox hunting, but consider this to be issue 2,378 on their list of concerns. If asked, they want a total ban, but they basically don't care.
On the other side of the ledger are the people who want fox hunting legalised. This is a small number, but for a measurable proportion (maybe 1% of the electorate?), it is a MASSIVE issue. Maybe a game changer. So, it may well be rational for the Tories to seek out this mini-chuck. And it doesn't matter if the major-chunk disagree.
A Liberal Democrat candidate has urged supporters to vote for his Labour rival in a bid to defeat the Conservatives in the general election.
Richard Baum has been selected by the Lib Dems as their candidate in highly marginal Bury North seat, on 8 June.
The LD candidate has no chance of winning, will take no part in campaigning in Bury and recommends voting for another party. Seems daft to stand a candidate just to lose a deposit.
It's a distraction, but could have a minor impact upon urban Lab/UKIP > Con switchers in that it reinforces the "toffs" meme that Mrs May is trying hard to dispel (and is contrary to today's news that "Lab had deserted the working classes".)
On the reverse side, if it unlocks Countryside Alliance footsoldiers again, It will be useful in rural Lib Dem facing battles.
Either way it will have been a carefully thought out position from the PM. She doesn't tend to blunder into unexpected statements.
And on the BBC UK news site, the leading headlines are:
"I'm not a Pacifist" says Corbyn
and
"Labour has deserted working class" - May
I wonder which will be believed?
I think the killers for Labour in the Com Res poll were people favouring Conservative over Labour policies by 51-31%, thinking Corbyn would be a disaster as PM by 56-30%, and thinking the Conservatives have the best campaign by 42-20%.
It doesn't matter if some Labour policies are popular if people distrust their leader, and think they're unaffordable.
Front pages still dominated by Labour’s leaked manifest, with mixed reviews.
‘Party backs radical manifesto’ claims the Guardian, while the Times leads with ‘Labour fights civil war over hard-left manifesto. Telegraph goes with ‘Labour MPs ditch Corbyn manifesto’, the Indie has ‘Labour’s £50bn wish list and the Mail ‘Corbyn’s fantasy land.
Andrew Hawkins @ComRes sums up the problem. - ComRes for @DailyMirror 34% are more likely to vote Lab having heard/read of policies, 47% less likely to.
I live in the countryside..Foxes in the field behind. I have never hunted - I would fall off the horse.. And don't follow it..
The League Against Cruel Sports say "“Are we really going to turn the clock back to a time when killing animals for fun was legal?"
Which is utter nonsense..considering all the other animals you can legally kill..and in the case of rats you SHOULD kill..
So frankly I - and many others - don't give a damn about the issue.
| Many City dwellers have not got a clue about the countryside..
There is a difference between killing an animal for a perceived necessity like pest control and torturing one to death as part of a pissed up laugh.
Hunted foxes are killed at least as painlessly as those killed in any other way.
It's small-time snobs like you that are the most depressing feature of the UK. The more vociferous Remainers clearly revel in Brexit because whatever its drawbacks, it legitimises their saying out loud what they've always thought, how stupid and horrible the proles are. Now you've found something to hate "toffs" about too (and of the people I hunt with, I would guess only about 20% are higher-rate taxpayers). Well done you.
@CarlottaVance Is every criticism of the Conservatives 'desperate'? Most know that this isn't going to impact the election, that doesn't mean they can't disagree with May's stance on fox-hunting, or indeed her bringing it up at this time. The country has way more concerning issues facing it right now than fox-hunting.
I live in the countryside..Foxes in the field behind. I have never hunted - I would fall off the horse.. And don't follow it..
The League Against Cruel Sports say "“Are we really going to turn the clock back to a time when killing animals for fun was legal?"
Which is utter nonsense..considering all the other animals you can legally kill..and in the case of rats you SHOULD kill..
So frankly I - and many others - don't give a damn about the issue.
| Many City dwellers have not got a clue about the countryside..
There is a difference between killing an animal for a perceived necessity like pest control and torturing one to death as part of a pissed up laugh.
Hunted foxes are killed at least as painlessly as those killed in any other way.
It's small-time snobs like you that are the most depressing feature of the UK. The more vociferous Remainers clearly revel in Brexit because whatever its drawbacks, it legitimises their saying out loud what they've always thought, how stupid and horrible the proles are. Now you've found something to hate "toffs" about too (and of the people I hunt with, I would guess only about 20% are higher-rate taxpayers). Well done you.
"...the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable,"
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
I live in the countryside..Foxes in the field behind. I have never hunted - I would fall off the horse.. And don't follow it..
The League Against Cruel Sports say "“Are we really going to turn the clock back to a time when killing animals for fun was legal?"
Which is utter nonsense..considering all the other animals you can legally kill..and in the case of rats you SHOULD kill..
So frankly I - and many others - don't give a damn about the issue.
| Many City dwellers have not got a clue about the countryside..
There is a difference between killing an animal for a perceived necessity like pest control and torturing one to death as part of a pissed up laugh.
Hunted foxes are killed at least as painlessly as those killed in any other way.
It's small-time snobs like you that are the most depressing feature of the UK. The more vociferous Remainers clearly revel in Brexit because whatever its drawbacks, it legitimises their saying out loud what they've always thought, how stupid and horrible the proles are. Now you've found something to hate "toffs" about too (and of the people I hunt with, I would guess only about 20% are higher-rate taxpayers). Well done you.
"...the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable,"
I have always dreamed of seeing a post of yours which did not contain serious errors of fact and logic; I would have thought even you could manage it with a partial quotation lifted off the internet. But no: "the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable" is what Wilde wrote. Incidentally, he didn't say it directly, he put it in the mouth of a character in a play who turns out to be a twat.
But please, regale us with the views of other convicted paedophiles. What did Jimmy think about it? Gary?
Front pages still dominated by Labour’s leaked manifest, with mixed reviews.
‘Party backs radical manifesto’ claims the Guardian, while the Times leads with ‘Labour fights civil war over hard-left manifesto. Telegraph goes with ‘Labour MPs ditch Corbyn manifesto’, the Indie has ‘Labour’s £50bn wish list and the Mail ‘Corbyn’s fantasy land.
Andrew Hawkins @ComRes sums up the problem. - ComRes for @DailyMirror 34% are more likely to vote Lab having heard/read of policies, 47% less likely to.
£50bn wish list? Did they get past the first couple of pages?
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Hunted foxes are killed at least as painlessly as those killed in any other way.
How do you know this? When was your vulpine agony meter last calibrated?
I'm not going to get involved with this discussion as it always generates more heat than light, and I doubt anyone will ever be persuaded to change their view by forum warriors. But I will just add a link to the Burns report into foxhunting, which is worth a read:
Steve Vanhinsbergh, co-owner of Stone Circle, also said the slab was unlikely to have been strong and stable enough to be installed in the restaurant garden.
Getting really obvious that every BBC radio news bulletin opens with 'Labour' or 'Jeremy Corbyn'. You'd think someone in Broadcasting House would notice and possibly give a small cough.
Front pages still dominated by Labour’s leaked manifest, with mixed reviews.
‘Party backs radical manifesto’ claims the Guardian, while the Times leads with ‘Labour fights civil war over hard-left manifesto. Telegraph goes with ‘Labour MPs ditch Corbyn manifesto’, the Indie has ‘Labour’s £50bn wish list and the Mail ‘Corbyn’s fantasy land.
Andrew Hawkins @ComRes sums up the problem. - ComRes for @DailyMirror 34% are more likely to vote Lab having heard/read of policies, 47% less likely to.
£50bn wish list? Did they get past the first couple of pages?
– I’ve seen cost estimates at 5 times that figure, but it’s the Indie (i), they're rubbish.
Grammar Schools were her biggest mistake but this isn't far behind. For someone so cautious she's not making a great start. Even worse corbyn isn't turning out to be the donkey many of us predicted. He's finally got people's attention and he isn't talking rubbish.
Neither is Thornberry. Brexit taught us that you only need two or three spokespeople so as long as he hides Abbott and McDonnell this could yet be an unexpected election.
Grammar Schools were her biggest mistake but this isn't far behind. For someone so cautious she's not making a great start. Even worse corbyn isn't turning out to be the donkey many of us predicted. He's finally got people's attention and he isn't talking rubbish.
Neither is Thornberry. Brexit taught us that you only need two or three spokespeople so as long as he hides Abbott and McDonnell this could yet be an unexpected election.
Hunted foxes are killed at least as painlessly as those killed in any other way.
How do you know this? When was your vulpine agony meter last calibrated?
Well, I think we'd all agree it's quicker and less painful than gassing, snaring or poisoning (or at least, anyone who knows anything about those three would agree).
The most humane way to kill a fox is lamping, which is usually more or less instantaneous. However, there are drawbacks to it. For one thing, foxes are clever and tend not to go near big strange things smelling of oil parked in a damn great field in the middle of the night. Also, lamping isn't exactly safe - in the month the hunting act was passed two people were killed in Herefordshire, one of them a boy of twelve, after a lamping bullet missed its target (quite what he was doing out and about at that time of night I do not know).
Arguably the most coherent reason to repeal this particular law however is that it is badly written and practically unenforceable (just like every other bill passed by Blair's government). I think there have only been something like 9 successful prosecutions of hunts under it, at least one of which was privately funded - most of the convictions relate to poaching which could easily be covered by other acts.
It may have been forgotten that Cameron did try to amend it to bring it in line with the much more effective and better written law in Scotland, but was, ironically, blocked by the SNP announcing they would vote against it despite it being (a) England only and (b) intended to apply Scottish law to England!
On topic: I seem to recall an early announcement on fox hunting from the Tories in GE2015 too (hopefully I'm not misremembering). I suspect it is something they hurry out of the way as an early announcement because it keeps the traditional rural supporters happy, but then tends to fade into the background as an issue because of the noise of the campaign - this suits the Tories because they know it's not widely supported.
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Correct. All those thinking she's a different type of Tory will be having a rethink.
She should have followed Dave's lead on this topic.
Kept it low key and not expressed her own view.
The Conservatives will hold a parliamentary vote on repealing the fox hunting ban if they win the next election, David Cameron has said.
The Prime Minister, who has previously ridden with the Heythrop Hunt in Oxfordshire, said he believed in the “freedom to hunt” and wanted fox hunting legalised.
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Correct. All those thinking she's a different type of Tory will be having a rethink.
All of them? I doubt many even heard it.. People seem to think voters listen to minutiae.. they don't
Neither is Thornberry. Brexit taught us that you only need two or three spokespeople so as long as he hides Abbott and McDonnell this could yet be an unexpected election.
And Rayner. And Burgon. And Long-Bailey. And Smith...
Frankly I'm not sure I do agree he isn't talking rubbish either. Although his saying he isn't a pacifist confirms what we all knew, that will not only upset his remaining core vote but opens up a number of potential attack lines given in war or terrorism he has always supported the national enemy, or said he would not stop them in the case of a hypothetical Paris-style attack.
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Yep. The Nasty party is back.
Politicians should be in politics to do what they believe is right, not what they think will get votes. Otherwise they suffer the fate of the LDs, where people look at them and ask: what are they actually for?
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Yep. The Nasty party is back.
That's good news for those of us who liked the Nasty Party.
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Correct. All those thinking she's a different type of Tory will be having a rethink.
I feel like May is an enigma. I went from liking her when she was Home Sec to feeling rather ambivalent about her now.
In fact, I'm rather concerned that she's being given a free run right now and there is no decent opposition around to voice the concerns of those worried about Brexit and a myriad of other things.
Hunted foxes are killed at least as painlessly as those killed in any other way.
How do you know this? When was your vulpine agony meter last calibrated?
Well, I think we'd all agree it's quicker and less painful than gassing, snaring or poisoning (or at least, anyone who knows anything about those three would agree).
The most humane way to kill a fox is lamping, which is usually more or less instantaneous. However, there are drawbacks to it. For one thing, foxes are clever and tend not to go near big strange things smelling of oil parked in a damn great field in the middle of the night. Also, lamping isn't exactly safe - in the month the hunting act was passed two people were killed in Herefordshire, one of them a boy of twelve, after a lamping bullet missed its target (quite what he was doing out and about at that time of night I do not know).
Arguably the most coherent reason to repeal this particular law however is that it is badly written and practically unenforceable (just like every other bill passed by Blair's government). I think there have only been something like 9 successful prosecutions of hunts under it, at least one of which was privately funded - most of the convictions relate to poaching which could easily be covered by other acts.
It may have been forgotten that Cameron did try to amend it to bring it in line with the much more effective and better written law in Scotland, but was, ironically, blocked by the SNP announcing they would vote against it despite it being (a) England only and (b) intended to apply Scottish law to England!
Just like the much needed Sunday trading reform...
Grammar Schools were her biggest mistake but this isn't far behind. For someone so cautious she's not making a great start. Even worse corbyn isn't turning out to be the donkey many of us predicted. He's finally got people's attention and he isn't talking rubbish.
Neither is Thornberry. Brexit taught us that you only need two or three spokespeople so as long as he hides Abbott and McDonnell this could yet be an unexpected election.
Those Com Res numbers I mentioned are pretty dire for Labour.
As an aside, Labour's draft manifesto says it will end driver-only operation on trains. This means that all trains (presumably they mean passenger trains only) will have to have guards. This will put up costs, make strikes much more effective, and do nothing for safety.
They also appear to commit to extending HS2 to Scotland. Chortle.
Oh, and it also fails to mention freight (though to be fair they're not the only party to 'forget' rail freight).
It should also be noted that while a similar pledge was made in 2010 and 2015, such a vote has never in those years reached the floor of the Commons, and there is no reason to suspect that it will in the next parliament. I am sure the leadership of the CA are aware of this, its a about the Tories telling the CA that they feel their pain and they are on their side (without actually doing anything) and the CA having something to point at to get their troops out knocking on doors.
Not really. A vote to qualify the ban would have taken place 18 months ago under Cameron. But, the SNP (outrageously and hypocritically) spiked it.
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Yep. The Nasty party is back.
That's good news for those of us who liked the Nasty Party.
You liked the Conservative party under IDS? Really?
As an aside, Labour's draft manifesto says it will end driver-only operation on trains. This means that all trains (presumably they mean passenger trains only) will have to have guards. This will put up costs, make strikes much more effective, and do nothing for safety.
They also appear to commit to extending HS2 to Scotland. Chortle.
Oh, and it also fails to mention freight (though to be fair they're not the only party to 'forget' rail freight).
I'd love to see them bring back guard's vans on freight trains. They could commission a new fleet of those freightliner guard's vans which were highly dangerous!
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Yep. The Nasty party is back.
That's good news for those of us who liked the Nasty Party.
You liked the Conservative party under IDS? Really?
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Yep. The Nasty party is back.
That's good news for those of us who liked the Nasty Party.
As an aside, Labour's draft manifesto says it will end driver-only operation on trains. This means that all trains (presumably they mean passenger trains only) will have to have guards. This will put up costs, make strikes much more effective, and do nothing for safety.
They also appear to commit to extending HS2 to Scotland. Chortle.
Oh, and it also fails to mention freight (though to be fair they're not the only party to 'forget' rail freight).
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
As an aside, Labour's draft manifesto says it will end driver-only operation on trains. This means that all trains (presumably they mean passenger trains only) will have to have guards. This will put up costs, make strikes much more effective, and do nothing for safety.
They also appear to commit to extending HS2 to Scotland. Chortle.
Oh, and it also fails to mention freight (though to be fair they're not the only party to 'forget' rail freight).
She should have followed Dave's lead on this topic.
Kept it low key and not expressed her own view.
The Conservatives will hold a parliamentary vote on repealing the fox hunting ban if they win the next election, David Cameron has said.
The Prime Minister, who has previously ridden with the Heythrop Hunt in Oxfordshire, said he believed in the “freedom to hunt” and wanted fox hunting legalised.
It makes the Conservatives look backward-looking, cruel and obsessed by trivia. Theresa May should never have gone near the subject.
Completely agree. It is not going to come close to changing my vote but the key to the success of David Cameron and now Theresa May was the detoxification of the Tory image from where the party was in the sad days of that well known rapper, IDS. This is a backward step which, although not decisive, will make many think, do I really have something in common with that party? Do they reflect my values?
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
Correct. All those thinking she's a different type of Tory will be having a rethink.
All of them? I doubt many even heard it.. People seem to think voters listen to minutiae.. they don't
Isn't it all just froth about fox hunting. It won't be anywhere near the manifesto - we had other priorities with Brexit - and it seems we are all disappointed that the prime minister was asked a question and answered it truthfully qualifying as her personal opinion. If she had fobbed them off there would be people saying she was shifty - it's the same for all politicians of all backgrounds - they can't win!!!
Comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39885745
Richard Baum has been selected by the Lib Dems as their candidate in highly marginal Bury North seat, on 8 June.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-39885399
This won't change a single vote.
But it will unlock significant campaigning muscle from the countryside lobby - that has been very helpful to the Tories in the last 2 elections.
This is another of those issues where people have a view, but it has next to no influence on the way they vote. The number of people that are anti-hunt enough to change from May to Corbyn is the square root of tiny.
I am sure urban LDs hate it, but they were never going to vote Tory anyway.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/11/choppers-election-podcast-jean-claude-juncker-trying-get-sack/
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, is trying to get David Davis the sack by allowing negative briefings about him, the Brexit secretary has claimed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/11/ben-fogle-says-found-infamous-ed-stone-upmarket-restaurant-london/
On the other side of the ledger are the people who want fox hunting legalised. This is a small number, but for a measurable proportion (maybe 1% of the electorate?), it is a MASSIVE issue. Maybe a game changer. So, it may well be rational for the Tories to seek out this mini-chuck. And it doesn't matter if the major-chunk disagree.
Desperate, much?
Try to break me
But you can't shake me
No
You can despise me
Demonise me
It satisfies me
So
There is so much love in me
The League Against Cruel Sports say "“Are we really going to turn the clock back to a time when killing animals for fun was legal?"
Which is utter nonsense..considering all the other animals you can legally kill..and in the case of rats you SHOULD kill..
So frankly I - and many others - don't give a damn about the issue.
| Many City dwellers have not got a clue about the countryside..
(Also, I hope said pies are offered gratis for any patron of the Auchentennach gay pleasure grounds, such as myself).
If she want to repeal old bills, why not the HoL Act 1999.
"I'm not a Pacifist" says Corbyn
and
"Labour has deserted working class" - May
I wonder which will be believed?
On a one off basis ....
On the reverse side, if it unlocks Countryside Alliance footsoldiers again, It will be useful in rural Lib Dem facing battles.
Either way it will have been a carefully thought out position from the PM. She doesn't tend to blunder into unexpected statements.
It doesn't matter if some Labour policies are popular if people distrust their leader, and think they're unaffordable.
https://twitter.com/david_powles/status/862769213513060354
‘Party backs radical manifesto’ claims the Guardian, while the Times leads with ‘Labour fights civil war over hard-left manifesto. Telegraph goes with ‘Labour MPs ditch Corbyn manifesto’, the Indie has ‘Labour’s £50bn wish list and the Mail ‘Corbyn’s fantasy land.
Andrew Hawkins @ComRes sums up the problem. - ComRes for @DailyMirror 34% are more likely to vote Lab having heard/read of policies, 47% less likely to.
It's small-time snobs like you that are the most depressing feature of the UK. The more vociferous Remainers clearly revel in Brexit because whatever its drawbacks, it legitimises their saying out loud what they've always thought, how stupid and horrible the proles are. Now you've found something to hate "toffs" about too (and of the people I hunt with, I would guess only about 20% are higher-rate taxpayers). Well done you.
She should have followed Dave's lead on this topic.
Kept it low key and not expressed her own view.
Stupid mistake and getting the Countryside Alliance to deliver leaflets for you in ultra safe seats (post the demise of UKIP) is no compensation at all.
But please, regale us with the views of other convicted paedophiles. What did Jimmy think about it? Gary?
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/frame/20080726235533/http://www.huntinginquiry.gov.uk/mainsections/report.pdf
Neither is Thornberry. Brexit taught us that you only need two or three spokespeople so as long as he hides Abbott and McDonnell this could yet be an unexpected election.
The most humane way to kill a fox is lamping, which is usually more or less instantaneous. However, there are drawbacks to it. For one thing, foxes are clever and tend not to go near big strange things smelling of oil parked in a damn great field in the middle of the night. Also, lamping isn't exactly safe - in the month the hunting act was passed two people were killed in Herefordshire, one of them a boy of twelve, after a lamping bullet missed its target (quite what he was doing out and about at that time of night I do not know).
Arguably the most coherent reason to repeal this particular law however is that it is badly written and practically unenforceable (just like every other bill passed by Blair's government). I think there have only been something like 9 successful prosecutions of hunts under it, at least one of which was privately funded - most of the convictions relate to poaching which could easily be covered by other acts.
It may have been forgotten that Cameron did try to amend it to bring it in line with the much more effective and better written law in Scotland, but was, ironically, blocked by the SNP announcing they would vote against it despite it being (a) England only and (b) intended to apply Scottish law to England!
The Prime Minister, who has previously ridden with the Heythrop Hunt in Oxfordshire, said he believed in the “freedom to hunt” and wanted fox hunting legalised.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-says-he-wants-to-repeal-the-fox-hunting-ban-10091571.html
All of them? I doubt many even heard it.. People seem to think voters listen to minutiae.. they don't
Storm in a teacup imho.
Frankly I'm not sure I do agree he isn't talking rubbish either. Although his saying he isn't a pacifist confirms what we all knew, that will not only upset his remaining core vote but opens up a number of potential attack lines given in war or terrorism he has always supported the national enemy, or said he would not stop them in the case of a hypothetical Paris-style attack.
In fact, I'm rather concerned that she's being given a free run right now and there is no decent opposition around to voice the concerns of those worried about Brexit and a myriad of other things.
Somehow people think 'not being straight with the electorate' is a disadvantage.....
I've laid this bet personally to a 800/100 on Betfair actually.
He should have come to this forum, between a few of us I'm sure we could have accommodated this bet - and at better odds than 12-1 too
They also appear to commit to extending HS2 to Scotland. Chortle.
Oh, and it also fails to mention freight (though to be fair they're not the only party to 'forget' rail freight).
https://twitter.com/TheHistoryPress/status/862759742158114816
The draft manifesto is full of stupid proposals.
2) I'm pretty agnostic about the ban on fox hunting.
Otherwise, you're spot on.
http://www.belltoons.co.uk/hotoffpress