Narberth - the Heart of Pembrokeshire in West Wales

It is now 5 years since the Hunting Bill received Royal Assent, ending the cruel practice of hunting with dogs.

Mr Ainger said, "I was the government whip who took the Hunting Act through its House of Commons stages, and seeing it pass into law was one of my proudest achievements.

Since the ban was introduced, dozens of prosecutions have been brought under the Act. Despite the claims of the pro-hunting Countryside Alliance, it is making a real difference. There is no evidence that the doom-laden predictions for rural communities that hunt campaigners made have materialised. We have achieved what we wanted, an end to cruel and unnecessary suffering being inflicted on animals in the name of sport.

And people want it too. According to the results of an Ipsos Mori poll last month, three quarters of people do not want hunting with dogs to be made legal again

But the Hunting Act remains under threat because the Conservative Party have made it clear they want to get rid of it as soon as possible.

"David Cameron spoke up for fox-hunting in his maiden speech, and I find it unbelievable that the Conservatives have pledged to get rid of the fox-hunting ban if they were to win the next election. With all the challenges the world is currently facing, this just doesn't make sense. I am therefore urging local people to sign the petition to help protect the ban, by visiting www.backtheban.com"

Hilary Benn, Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said,

"If you think the Tories have changed, this makes it absolutely clear that their priorities haven't. They know the public doesn't agree with them on this, but they are determined to go ahead if they are given the chance. That's why we need to continue to campaign to stop this barbaric ‘sport' from returning to our land.

Mr Ainger added, "I am giving my absolute, categorical assurance that in the next parliament I will totally oppose any attempt to weaken or repeal the Hunting Act which is a landmark in animal welfare law."

Comments (10)

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written by Conservatives Against Fox Hunting., 27, January, 2010

62% of Conservative voters want fox hunting to remain illegal. We want the hunting ban to remain in place. It is only a minority who wish to see it repealed.

www.conservativesagainstfoxhunting.com

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written by M J Young, 26, December, 2009

Dear Sir

I totally support the repeal of the " Ban " and will work tirelessly to this end and the removal from office of people like you .

M J Young

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written by jordan , 03, December, 2009

iy should be allowed if you only ever have a gun on you and no dogs

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written by JKendall, 26, November, 2009

There are more humane ways of killing foxes when this is the only course of action available.

Hunting is not an effective method of "pest" control. It exists purely for the entertainment of the participants. In a civilised society we cannot allow people to amuse themselves by torturing and killing animals. The one quick bite to the neck claim is a lie! These an animals die in agony. This must not be allowed.

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written by Auntykill, 26, November, 2009

Death is "almost" immediate is it Iain? How do you define almost? After 30 seconds? A minute two minutes or what? Have you ever been in agony? I'm told by someone who lost an arm in an industrial accident that five seconds of the sort of pain one feels being ripped apart is like a lifetime. I should think you'd be squealing for mercy, were you a fox awaiting "almost" immediate release by death. Nick Ainger you are a star, you are the sort of person who can be trusted to act with compassion from the start of a project to the end of it. The conservatives haven't changed, they like to tell us they have but you only have to see Cameron champing at the bit to get in there and repeal the ban for his Countryside Alliance mates to know that a mini-Thatcher lurks there. I'll be voting Labour, the party that brought in the ban and will keep, maybe even strengthen, the ban.

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written by Campaign For Decency , 26, November, 2009

Please everyone who wants to uphold the hunting ban, get your name on the R.O.A.R. (Register Online Against Repeal), an 'all party' register at:

www.campaignfordecency.org.uk

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written by Geoffrey Woollard, 26, November, 2009

We British led the way in banning the slave trade and in banning slavery in the Empire, we led the way in banning bear baiting and cock fighting, and we led the way in banning hunting and hare coursing. My preference is not to ban anything more but my intention is to do all in my power to stop the Conservatives and others 'un-banning' hunting and hare coursing.

That is the issue that may face Members of the new Parliament: whether to 'un-ban' that which has been banned. Surely, we must continue to make progress and not let our civilisation take a backward step.

Have a look at my own blog: it's at - http://woollard4southeastcambs.blogspot.com/

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written by mhayworth, 26, November, 2009

Many against hunting with dogs are not opposed to catching a fox and shooting it humanely. Rescue workers catch foxes in cage traps every day. It is the prolonged suffering of the chase (the dogs are bred for stamina far beyond that of a fox) and the brutal kill in the name of sport that we are fighting against. Anyone who has ever heard the cries of the fox during the kill knows that the 'instant death via a first bite to the neck' is pure fiction. The dogs are frenzied and most go immediately for the lower and fleshier parts of the body. It is something no decent human being would take part in.

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written by Lynne, 21, November, 2009

Foxhunting is just cruel. The foxes get terrified and ARE cruelly killed by the dogs. I wont vote for anyone who wants to change the law.

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written by Iain, 21, November, 2009

Without a shadow of a doubt, foxes, if left to multiply indefinitely, will eventually have a detrimental effect on rural Britain.

Hounds don't kill foxes in an 'inhumane' way. Death is almost immediate.

Most farmers have guns, licensed of course. Do you *really* think they don't 'quietly' shoot foxes... or even badgers??

Wake up people!