Latest news with #LeagueAgainstCruelSports
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Campaigners call for stronger fox hunting laws in city protest
A member of the league dressed as a huntsman and carrying a fake fox covered in blood paraded down Queen Street in Cardiff and spoke to the public about the need for stronger fox hunting laws. John Petrie, senior campaigns manager with the League Against Cruel Sports, said: 'Fox hunting has been illegal for 20 years and yet this blood sport is still going on across Wales despite the ban. Foxes are still being chased and killed and havoc is being inflicted on rural communities by the hunts. 'The public, shocked by the sight of a hunter in red coat and blood-spattered fox, came up to us to voice their support for stronger fox hunting laws and an end to fox hunting for good.' More than three quarters of the Welsh public supported strengthening a Hunting Act, according to a poll commissioned by the league and carried out by FindOutNow with further analysis by Electoral Calculus. Mr Petrie said: 'It's time to properly strengthen the Hunting Act and end all hunting with hounds and we urge the Welsh public to pledge to take part in the forthcoming government consultation and demand an end to hunting wildlife with dogs. 'This is a pivotal moment for animal welfare and together we can see fox hunting finally banned for good in both Wales and England.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Campaigners highlight the need for stronger fox hunting laws in city protest
Campaigners from the League Against Cruel Sports have taken to the streets to expose what they call the savagery of fox hunting, which they claim is still going on despite the ban. A member of the league dressed as a huntsman and carrying a fake fox covered in blood paraded down Queen Street in Cardiff and spoke to the public about the need for stronger fox hunting laws. John Petrie, senior campaigns manager with the League Against Cruel Sports, said: 'Fox hunting has been illegal for 20 years and yet this blood sport is still going on across Wales despite the ban. Foxes are still being chased and killed and havoc is being inflicted on rural communities by the hunts. 'The public, shocked by the sight of a hunter in red coat and blood-spattered fox, came up to us to voice their support for stronger fox hunting laws and an end to fox hunting for good.' More than three quarters of the Welsh public supported strengthening a Hunting Act, according to a poll commissioned by the league and carried out by FindOutNow with further analysis by Electoral Calculus. Mr Petrie said: 'It's time to properly strengthen the Hunting Act and end all hunting with hounds and we urge the Welsh public to pledge to take part in the forthcoming government consultation and demand an end to hunting wildlife with dogs. 'This is a pivotal moment for animal welfare and together we can see fox hunting finally banned for good in both Wales and England.'
South Wales Argus
16-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
League Against Cruel Sports protest outside Senedd
The League Against Cruel Sports' 'birds' were confined in 'tiny, barren cages' to expose what they say are low welfare standards in breeding pheasants and partridges for sport. Emma Slawinski, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "These cages are tiny, they are bleak, and the birds suffer immensely. "They are injured by attempting to fly out, and the females are injured by the male's talons repeatedly pulling out her back feathers. "All of this is so eggs can be produced in their tens of millions to provide birds that only exist to be shot." The campaigners' call for a ban on these cages aligns with a growing public demand for an end to cage-based farming systems. A UK Parliament petition, launched by Joanna Lumley, to ban cages for farmed animals has surpassed 100,000 signatures. The league is urging the UK and Welsh governments to act, calling on the Senedd to take the lead by legislating a ban in Wales. Ms Slawinski added: "It is time for change and it is time for the government to ban these cruel cages."
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Fox hunting in Scotland 'still happening' two years on from 'strongest ban in UK'
A new report by the League Against Cruel Sports warned huntsmen continue to make 'brazen attempts' to exploit loopholes and flout the law. Fox hunting is still happening two years on from Scotland's new strengthened ban coming into force, a report has warned. The research by the League Against Cruel Sports found although the wildlife legislation is having a 'real impact', huntsmen are still making 'brazen attempts' to exploit loopholes and flout the law. The Record previously revealed how dozens of supposedly strict fox control licences have been issued under a new scheme since the law came into force with scant monitoring. We've also documented how at least two of Scotland's notorious established hunts have used NatureScot licences to continue their activities. However, in a sign that the law is making an impact, nearly half of the country's hunts have folded since the 2023 Act was passed. The League Against Cruel Sports hailed the 'significant progress' in implementing 'the UK's strongest anti-fox hunting legislation' in Scotland. But it also highlighted mounting evidence of determined efforts by some huntsmen to 'evade the law's intent' including suspected illegal hunting activities. Robbie Marsland, Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland at the anti-blood sports group, said: 'Two years after strengthened legislation was introduced to end fox hunting in Scotland for good, our monitoring reports both signs of progress and brazen attempts to exploit loopholes in the law. 'During the passage of the Bill, ministers were clear that hunting with dogs has 'no place in modern Scotland', that the licensing scheme would be 'rigorous' and that a license 'should be the exception'. 'Instead, what we've seen is that the issuing of these supposedly exceptional permissions has become commonplace and routine, with over 60 licenses issued this past season. 'More troubling still is that two hunt operators currently under Police Scotland investigation for illegal hunting were operating under these very licenses. 'This is not just bending the rules - it's a deliberate attempt to preserve a cruel practice that has no place in modern Scotland." He added: 'On-the-ground observation by our field staff is making it harder for hunts to operate in the shadows, and that is something to be proud of. 'One day we'll look back and see that this legislation worked, but we're not there yet.' Hunting foxes with more than two dogs is illegal in Scotland following the landmark Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) 2023. The new law was aimed at closing loopholes in previous 2002 legislation which had been deemed ineffective. However, it's still possible to hunt with a larger pack of hounds under licence provided it's strictly for reasons such as protecting livestock or wildlife. Last August, we revealed how one notorious group, the Lauderdale Hunt in the Borders, had obtained a licence to continue their activities. And in January, the Record exposed how the hunt allegedly travelled 100 miles to rampage through the Renfrewshire countryside terrorising foxes under cover of an official licence. Another hunt, the Dumfriesshire and Stewartry Foxhounds, is understood to have used the licensing scheme for a hunt earlier this year. However, the group is the latest of Scotland's hunts to shut down in the wake of the new ban, becoming the fourth of Scotland's ten established hunts to disband since 2023. It came after a 64-year-old member of the hunt was charged with assault after allegedly punching an animal rights activist in the face at the group's final meet in March. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The League also claimed its offer to assist wildlife agency NatureScot in licence monitoring was rebuffed for 'GDPR and personnel' reasons. Marsland added: 'NatureScot's acceptance of our assistance would significantly enhance monitoring without burdening their resources.' The report notes Police Scotland are currently investigating four hunts for suspected illegal hunting, including two cases where hunts were operating under NatureScot licenses. Emma Slawinski, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: 'The progress being made in Scotland should give hope to everyone who wants to see fox hunting consigned to the history books. 'It's clear that with political will and proper enforcement, we can end this cruel practice for good.' NatureScot's Licensing Manager Liz McLachlan said: 'We are committed to achieving the aims of the Hunting with Dogs Act. "We carefully assess all applications to ensure that they meet legal requirements. We are aware of reports of illegal hunting and are working with stakeholders and Scottish Government officials as appropriate. "We monitor compliance with our own staff and liaise with Police Scotland when necessary.' The Scottish Government was also approached for comment.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Profile: Who is arrested MP Dan Norris?
Labour MP Dan Norris has been suspended from the party on Saturday after he was arrested on suspicion of non-recent sexual offences against a girl and rape. Avon and Somerset Police said that a man in his sixties was arrested on Friday and has been released on conditional bail. Mr Norris was elected as Labour MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, a constituency that lies roughly between the cities of Bristol and Bath. The 65-year-old defeated veteran Conservative MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg for the seat in last year's general election, winning 20,739 votes compared to his competitor's 15,420. In 2010, Mr Norris lost his seat to Sir Jacob, having represented the Wansdyke constituency – which became North East Somerset that year – since he first became an MP in 1997. After his victory was announced, he declared: 'We've got Mogg-xit done', in a reference to Sir Jacob's strong Brexiteer stance. Mr Norris, who lives in Pensford, has 'deep local roots' in the area having previously worked as an NSPCC-trained child protection officer and ran his own businesses there, according to the West of England Combined Authority website. He served as assistant whip under the Tony Blair administration from 2001 to 2003, and then as an environment minister under Gordon Brown from 2009 to 2010. Mr Norris has been Labour's metro mayor of the West of England since 2021, when he beat Conservative rival Samuel Williams by taking 59.5% of the vote. The mayor leads the West of England Combined Authority, which covers Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and makes decisions on issues including transport, homes, business, jobs and the economy in the region. He was due to step down from the role ahead of the local elections next month. Mr Norris is also chairman of the League Against Cruel Sports, a UK-based animal welfare charity which campaigns to end sports such as fox hunting and game bird shooting. In a bio on the charity's website, he said: 'I'm immensely proud to be Chair of the League Against Cruel Sports. Their work is hugely impressive and their impact has been significant. 'I'm a life-long animal welfare advocate and one of my proudest achievements was calling for, and voting through, the hunting ban as an MP under the previous Labour government and later serving as an Environment and Rural Affairs Minister.' In December, he urged ministers to 'close the legal loopholes that allow needless cruelty to animals, and implement a proper ban on hunting once and for all'. One of the Government's manifesto pledges was to ban trail hunting.
