TORIES GET READY FOR A REPEAL OF THE FOX HUNTING BAN

The Times

A tribunal to deal with any wrongdoing by huntsmen and women would be set up if the law that prohibits hunting with hounds were repealed under a Conservative government.

It would have the power to fine, suspend and even ban people from taking part if they were found to have broken the rules or brought hunting into disrepute.

Under the system, approved by hunting chiefs, any rogue hunter would face the prospect of a double trial and penalty – any breaches of animal welfare or criminal laws could still lead to prosecution.

The plan, which is still being finalised, has been drawn up by a “repeal committee” of hunting chiefs and parliamentarians, chaired by the Conservative MP Edward Garnier, QC.

The tribunal would probably be headed by an independent person, perhaps a retired judge or senior civil servant, and funded by contributions from every hunt. It would deal with complaints about trespass and nuisance and any allegations about hunt staff breaking rules, such as using terriers to dig out foxes.

David Cameron, the Leader of the Opposition, has made clear that if he becomes prime minister he will offer a free vote in government time for repeal of the four-year-old hunting ban.

A recent survey by the Countryside Alliance, a pressure group, found that of 120 Tory candidates in marginal seats only one was against repealing the ban and he said that he would abstain on any vote.

Some hunt members see no need to repeal the legislation as hunts have revived since the ban and can operate within the law by following artificial trails, organising hound exercise clubs or hunting with a bird of prey.

Mr Garnier, however, is adamant that the law must be repealed,though he acknowledges that public concerns must be addressed. The MP, the party’s justice spokesman, is chairing the repeal committee in a personal capacity. He does not hunt but represents prime hunting territory in Leices-tershire and supports his local hunts, the Fernie and the Cottesmore.

“I take the view it is not satisfactory to have a law, and especially a criminal law, under which people can be sent to prison or fined when to a large extent it is not accepted in the geographical areas where it’s supposed to bite,” he said. “Lots of people in rural areas think this law is designed to get at them and they find it offensive. What we are trying to do on the repeal committee is to ensure there is a perfectly acceptable way forward.

“This is not just about undoing the ban and nothing else, but this is to provide a system that would act as a deterrent against bad behaviour but also one that offers protection for those who hunt within the law and to protect them from false accusations.”

The tribunal could deal with complaints from people about huntsmen “parking on verges and crushing daffodils” and bring speedy redress, whether in compensation or payment to repair damage and an apology.

Mr Garnier admitted that the plan could fail even with a Conservative victory. “We are not so arrogant as to think that what we are doing is going to happen and that even if we come up with a watertight and sensible scheme that the wider public will think it is a good thing,” he said. “But I hope we are exercising sensitivity and common sense and not getting ahead of ourselves. We will be responsive to public concerns and the political landscape and we are acutely aware of pubic concerns about welfare and cruelty.”

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