COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE

On Friday 11th February the Western Morning News published a story in which Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Everyone knows that the Hunting Act isn't working, it is a bad piece of legislation and I repeat my commitment that when the vote happens in the months to come, I will be voting for repealing the legislation. " Mr Cameron says "There are more important things for us to deal with, but it is important that we keep to that promise." The Countryside Alliance welcomes Mr Cameron's comments. We fully understand that there are bigger priorities facing the country, but this issue is a matter of trust and we are pleased to see the Prime Minister re-confirm his position, having previously described the Act as a "farce". Read the Western Morning News story


The Prime Minister has been consistent on hunting since the Act came into force:

• “I’m in favour of the freedom to hunt, I think the law was a great mistake and the position we had at the last election was absolutely right, that we should give the Commons the chance to think again in Government time. People said the law would look a complete imbecile and it just does.” Interview with the Daily Telegraph, 30 September 2006
• “What I have said that we should do is give the House of Commons the chance to have another vote on this issue..... Personally, I have always supported the freedom to hunt. I represent a rural constituency where many people support and take part in hunting and back it and my personal view has always been that this is somewhere the criminal law shouldn’t go and I have always supported the freedom to hunt so I would vote accordingly but it would be for the House of Commons to vote on a free vote. If it voted to change the law we would then give Government time in a Government Bill to sort that out.” Webcameron, 8 March 2007
• “We’d give MPs a free vote on overturning the hunting ban and if the vote went through there’d be a Government Bill to get rid of it. My own view is that the ban isn’t working – it’s a farce.” Interview on TalkSport Radio, 1 May 2007
• “We have a very clear position on this, there will be a free vote and if there is a vote to repeal the hunting ban there will be a Government Bill in Government time.......It’s quite clear it isn’t working, there are more people hunting than ever before. The law is being made to look an idiot and that isn’t a good situation to be in.” Interview with The Western Mail, 19 February 2008
• "My own view is the hunting ban is a bad piece of legislation, it hasn't worked, it has made a mockery of the law, a lot of time was wasted on it, and I think we would be better off without it. That gives you a clue to how I will vote." Interviewed at the Woodstock Literary Festival, September 2009
• 'I always thought the ban was a mistake because I think it is very difficult to enforce. I think it's somewhere where the criminal law shouldn't go and the mess we have now pretty much proves that." Interview on BBC Radio 5 Live, April 2010
  
  The Coalition Agreement states "We will bring forward a motion on a free vote enabling the House of Commons to express its view on the repeal of the Hunting Act."