UK: Conservatives admit they do not have parliamentary majority to repeal fox hunting ban

[smurfy]

[img]http://imgkk.com/i/jldt.jpg[/img]

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20845401[/url]

[quote=BBC News][B]The Conservatives do not have the parliamentary majority to overturn a ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales, the Tory Party chairman said.[/B]

Grant Shapps said he agreed with Environment Secretary Owen Paterson that a free vote for MPs on lifting the ban would be defeated.

Mr Paterson earlier said that a vote may not happen in 2013.

It has been illegal to use dogs to hunt animals in England and Wales since 2005, and in Scotland since 2002.

Mr Shapps, speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World At One programme, said: "As Owen Patterson said, it makes sense to bring something forward if you think there's a chance of there being a Parliamentary majority.

"At the moment there doesn't appear to be one."

More than 300 hunts are holding Boxing Day meets, a week after the RSPCA's first successful prosecution of a hunt for operating illegally.

Hunts are no longer allowed to use dogs to chase foxes, but are instead supposed to use techniques such as drag hunting, where dogs set off on the trail of a scent laid about 20 minutes in advance by a runner or rider dragging a lure.

Mr Paterson told the Daily Telegraph: "At the moment, it would not be my proposal to bring forward a vote we were going to lose."

A free vote on the issue is included in the coalition agreement, although Mr Shapps said: "Hunting hasn't been a feature of this Parliament."

Tory backbencher Simon Hart, a former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said he believed Prime Minister David Cameron still intended to honour the commitment to hold a free vote.

"He knows that he has made a promise on this, he knows he can't really afford to let down core voters in rural constituencies and nothing he has said in the last two-and-a-half years to me has indicated that he has slipped an inch on this," he told the BBC.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed: "The coalition government pledged to put forward a motion to allow a free vote on the Hunting Act.

"This will take place at an appropriate time and if parliament were to vote in favour of repeal, the government would introduce a Repeal Bill in the House of Parliament in due course."

Responding to Mr Paterson's comments, the shadow environment secretary, Mary Creagh, said "most people back Labour's ban on hunting wild animals with dogs".

Animal welfare charities, including the RSPCA and the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), have commissioned research which suggests that only 15% of people want to scrap the ban.

But the Countryside Alliance says it has seen no slackening of support for hunting in recent years.[/quote]

[Sobotnik]

Good, I hope it doesn't pass.

[iusehax]

Pssh, should never have been banned in the first place.

[Number-41]

why the fuck would you want to hunt this

[IMG]http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/images/wildlife/fox_gl.jpg[/IMG]

[ChestyMcGee]

[QUOTE=iusehax;38984402]Pssh, should never have been banned in the first place.[/QUOTE]

i dont agree with sport hunting in any format because technological advances have rendered it pretty much pointless, but fox hunting has got to be one of the worst forms of the sport. i mean i could understand stalking a deer and shooting it with stealth and skill, but using dogs and horses to chase down a fox until it collapses from exhaustion is just ridiculous and sadistic

[Zephyrs]

I see nothing wrong with hunting.

Fox hunting isn't about skill though. It's anything but clean.

[carcarcargo]

Sadly they can still hunt foxes, just without dogs. Would rather see sport hunting banned altogether personally.

[Curls]

[QUOTE=Number-41;38985016]why the fuck would you want to hunt this

[IMG]http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/images/wildlife/fox_gl.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

They'd be fucking boss pet

[thumb]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/201/9/8/Pet_Fox____The_Drama_Chair_by_silverrogue.jpg[/thumb][thumb]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tYBSurt3PDQ/TFIuIHcLS-I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/I-HfBPtY0IA/s1600/CIMG9973.JPG[/thumb][thumb]http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/211/a/e/Pet_Fox____Sunshine_by_silverrogue.jpg[/thumb][thumb]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01828/pet-fox_1828305i.jpg[/thumb]

[Scot]

[QUOTE=J!NX;38985333]They'd be fucking boss pet

[thumb]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/201/9/8/Pet_Fox____The_Drama_Chair_by_silverrogue.jpg[/thumb][thumb]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tYBSurt3PDQ/TFIuIHcLS-I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/I-HfBPtY0IA/s1600/CIMG9973.JPG[/thumb][thumb]http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/211/a/e/Pet_Fox____Sunshine_by_silverrogue.jpg[/thumb][thumb]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01828/pet-fox_1828305i.jpg[/thumb][/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure Russia bred a domesticated fox.

[editline]27th December 2012[/editline]

But they're hella expensive.

[DaysBefore]

[QUOTE=Scot;38985381]I'm pretty sure Russia bred a domesticated fox.

[editline]27th December 2012[/editline]

But they're hella expensive.[/QUOTE]
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox]Yeah they did.[/url] Red foxes are way cuter though.

[Jetblack357]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEcxyrYMpc8[/media]

Foxes are cool.

[erazor]

[QUOTE=Jetblack357;38985620][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEcxyrYMpc8[/media]

Foxes are cool.[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6jmpi6LvH1r99egpo1_500.jpg[/IMG]

Joking aside, it's things like this that really tell you about the nature of the Tory party; they'd be happy to go ahead with a vote losing issue just so their upper-class core can rip up a fox with dogs for fun.

[Vasili]

[QUOTE=Number-41;38985016]why the fuck would you want to hunt this

[IMG]http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/images/wildlife/fox_gl.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

they have a habit of being ruthless killers similar to wolves, local farmer had a problem with a few foxes that would kill all his chickens but only take 1-2 to actually eat.

[editline]27th December 2012[/editline]

saying that saw a fox late at night while walking home, waved at it and it ran away. Was probably looking to scavenge in some bins.

[GarrettFox]

[QUOTE=Vasili;38986009]they have a habit of being ruthless killers similar to wolves, local farmer had a problem with a few foxes that would kill all his chickens but only take 1-2 to actually eat.
[/QUOTE]

Farmers are assholes who don't know shit and should shut the fuck up.

They constantly blame wolves in the United States for killing their prey when, in reality, the coyotes are the overwhelming majority of the kills made. As a result wolf hunting is now being approved all over. Fuck farmers.

I take no issue with shooting a predator animal actively attempting to take down your stock as a farmer, but pursuing them is disgusting.

Fox hunting seems to enjoy being the sport of dicks too. The disproportionate use of resources to kill one animal, the ridiculous outfits, the entire show of it. Ugh.

You eat what you kill. Otherwise you are just an asshole.

[willer]

[QUOTE=GunFox;38986101]Farmers are assholes who don't know shit and should shut the fuck up.

They constantly blame wolves in the United States for killing their prey when, in reality, the coyotes are the overwhelming majority of the kills made. As a result wolf hunting is now being approved all over. Fuck farmers.

I take no issue with shooting a predator animal actively attempting to take down your stock as a farmer, but pursuing them is disgusting.

Fox hunting seems to enjoy being the sport of dicks too. The disproportionate use of resources to kill one animal, the ridiculous outfits, the entire show of it. Ugh.

You eat what you kill. Otherwise you are just an asshole.[/QUOTE]

I get the feeling that you would have a strong opinion on this issue. I wonder why....

On another note- foxes are really pretty cold-blooded. Just because it's fuzzy and has big eyes doesn't mean that it's harmless, and for the most part the animals that humans decide to take as pets are actually genocidal maniacs out in the wild. I can see hunting to keep them away from territory, but the sport is that- a sport. These people aren't doing it because the foxes are causing them harm, they are just literally a bunch of rich people that decided to choose an animal and chase it down on horse-back until it collapses from exhaustion and then talk about how well they hunt. No wonder why only 15% of the people want to repeal the law.

[GarrettFox]

[QUOTE=willer;38986405]I get the feeling that you would have a strong opinion on this issue. I wonder why....[/QUOTE]

Wolf hunting season in the US makes me sad.

Hunters sit on the park boundaries of Yellowstone national park and shoot the wolves the second they stray outside the invisible boundary.

Sport hunting is awful.

[willer]

[QUOTE=GunFox;38986434]Wolf hunting season in the US makes me sad.

Hunters sit on the park boundaries of Yellowstone national park and shoot the wolves the second they stray outside the invisible boundary.

Sport hunting is awful.[/QUOTE]

No, I was referring to your name "gun-fox". Like literally guns in relation to foxes, and hunting.

[iusehax]

[QUOTE=Number-41;38985016]why the fuck would you want to hunt this[IMG]http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/images/wildlife/fox_gl.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Just because it looks cute doesn't mean it's not a nuisance.

[MrEndangered]

[QUOTE=iusehax;38986787]Just because it looks cute doesn't mean it's not a nuisance.[/QUOTE]

It's a nuisance if it's in your farm killing your chickens. You then should shoot the little bastard.

When it's out in the wild being eaten to death by dogs only to be hung on a wall, you're the nuisance.

[Indyclone77]

tbh Fox Hunting still go's ahead in many places in-spite of the ban due to no one enforcing the ban on fox hunting

[Moustacheman]

[QUOTE=Number-41;38985016]why the fuck would you want to hunt this

[IMG]http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/images/wildlife/fox_gl.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Fox fur is pretty warm, mate.

Also, if cooked the right way, fox is fucking delicious.

[yawmwen]

[QUOTE=GunFox;38986101]
I take no issue with shooting a predator animal actively attempting to take down your stock as a farmer, but pursuing them is disgusting.
[/QUOTE]

gotta disagree with this part. animals that hunt livestock should be pursued when feasible. it's the same thing as killing a bear that kills a human; it helps create a boundary between human and animal that can hopefully be respected.

[Moustacheman]

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38988285]gotta disagree with this part. animals that hunt livestock should be pursued when feasible. it's the same thing as killing a bear that kills a human. it helps create a boundary between human and animal that can hopefully be respected.[/QUOTE]

Bear tastes good, too. Bit porkish, and a little stringy, but pretty good.

Let's just stop arguing before I go on about the different animals I've eaten.

[Papa Gator]

[QUOTE=Moustacheman;38988297]Bear tastes good, too. Bit porkish, and a little stringy, but pretty good.

Let's just stop arguing before[B] I go on about the different animals I've eaten[/B].[/QUOTE]

please, do go on.
i would love to read the great reviews you have for eating all types of animals.

[Fatfatfatty]

Foxes are like slim corgis

you wouldnt want to hunt a corgi would you? ;_;

[avon43]

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;38989160]Foxes are like slim corgis

you wouldnt want to hunt a corgi would you? ;_;[/QUOTE]

Except corgi's don't eat your chickens and harass farm animals

[Lizzrd]

[QUOTE=avon43;38989428]Except corgi's don't eat your chickens and harass farm animals[/QUOTE]Simple solution then, don't get a farm if you have a pet fox.

[Curls]

[QUOTE=DaysBefore;38985430][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox]Yeah they did.[/url] Red foxes are way cuter though.[/QUOTE]

[thumb]http://www.zooborns.com/.a/6a010535647bf3970b01116898bd5b970c-800wi[/thumb][thumb]http://www.itsnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/fennec.jpg[/thumb][thumb]http://www.dec.ny.gov/images/wildlife_images/redfox2.jpg[/thumb][thumb]http://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/7-9-12-red-fox-kits-img_2175.jpg[/thumb]

Agree for fennecs or disagree for red fox

[znk666]

[QUOTE=Number-41;38985016]why the fuck would you want to hunt this

[IMG]http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/images/wildlife/fox_gl.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Because it's pelt can make you a fortune?

[Terminutter]

[QUOTE=znk666;38989533]Because it's pelt can make you a fortune?[/QUOTE]

People who hunt foxes tend to be middle / upper class toffs who are making fortunes shoving cash around who basically trot along after dogs who do all of the work, leaving a tattered pelt on a fox that's been run to death. I'm with Oscar Wilde on fox hunting.
[quote=Oscar Wilde]"The English country gentleman galloping after a fox — the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable. "[/quote]
They don't even really care about the fox, it's more the fact that they go out hunting with their little clique, it's the snob value of the whole thing, so that they can boast that they "went out hunting" at the next exclusive country club meeting.