Almost two-thirds of Britons oppose repeal of hunt ban

[marmar]

from the Independent UK:



Fewer than one in five people in the UK would support a repeal of the ban on hunting with dogs, according to a poll commissioned to coincide with the start of the hunting season this weekend.

The YouGov poll of more than 3,400 people, conducted last week, reveals that 59 per cent oppose the ban being overturned. And 63 per cent disagree that it amounts to an infringement of civil liberties. A large majority, 77 per cent, want to see the hunting ban properly enforced.

Opinion is divided on whether hunts are respecting the law – 32 per cent say hunts act within the law and 38 per cent believe they act illegally.

The poll, commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports (Lacs), shows that one in seven (16 per cent) are in favour of prison sentences for people who break the law, with almost half, 48 per cent, in favour of people being fined up to £10,000.

Despite this being the first year of hunting under a pro-hunt Prime Minister since the ban came into force in 2004, there seems little prospect of one of the most controversial pieces of legislation passed by Labour being repealed. David Cameron has promised a "free vote on a motion" on a repeal of the Hunting Act, but campaigners claim any such vote would be lost. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/almost-twothirds-of-britons-oppose-repeal-of-hunt-ban-2121208.html

[ZombieHorde]

1. I imagine tradition is reason of the opposition.

Tradition is a horrible master.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Opposition to what?

I ask because the Independent title has 3 'negatives' - oppose, repeal, and ban.

Most people would say the 'tradition' in this case is hunting with hounds, which they did for ages, and was used as a stereotypical image of the British countryside. If you were saying tradition is the reason for opposing a repeal of the ban, then I'd disagree. It is a reason for people who want the ban repealed. It wasn't a reason for the ban.

[HipChick]

3. Hunting is typically associated with the upper classes

Britain is still a very class divided society..I wouldn't imagine a working class man up north gives a shit

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. It depends

Some give a shit because they don't like the idea of training dogs to kill the fox. Some give a shit precisely because they are working class, and see it as an upper class privilege. Some working men up north were hit by the same ban, because it also banned greyhound hare coursing too, and that was largely northern, and not upper class - see eg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_Cup .

[ZombieHorde]

5. You're right, my post was vague. I was referring to the opposition to banning the use of hunting

dogs. I believe using hunting dogs is a tradition in that part of the world.