Back in August last year the Countryside Alliance (CA) responded to the Labour Party Animal Welfare Manifesto and you can read their response here. Our particular interest is their opposition to strengthening what they describe as “the illogical Hunting Act”. They seemed back then to see the act as an attack on fox hunting a rural communities.

Fast forward to March when a coalition, which includes CA among its members wants enhanced powers for the police and the courts to tackle hare coursing see here. Interestingly the CA wants to see amendments to the Game Act 1831 rather than to the Hunting Act 2004. Strengthening the Game Act would target just hare coursers and poachers whereas strengthening the Hunting Act might have unfortunate consequences for people hunting foxes.

We will watch further developments with interest.