Nigel Farage was seen amongst the throng at Chiddingstone Castle, in Chiddingstone, Kent, before hunters and their packs of dogs started following a pre-laid trail
The final Boxing Day hunt took place this morning, with riders taking to trails in the UK to participate in the controversial practice just days after a Labour document revealed the Government’s plan to completely criminalise fox hunting.
Boxing Day hunts took place across England this morning, with dozens of riders seen out in the early morning sun with their dogs to track a pre-laid animal scent. Hunters came out to participate in what they say was an activity geared towards “physical and mental well-being” that doesn’t hurt animals. Hunting supporter Nigel Farage was seen watching a hunt at Chiddingstone Castle, in Kent.
But protesters appearing among the hunters have argued it is used to participate in illegal activities targeting innocent animals, a view Labour agrees with as outlined in its animal welfare strategy published on Monday.
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Fox hunting has been illegal across all four home nations for the last 20 years, with Tony Blair’s Government banning what has long been seen as an inhumane practice that would see riders on horseback employ massive groups of dogs to hunt and kill the animals. The general ban has been undercut during that time by remaining permissions that allow hunters to “trail hunt” using a foxless pre-laid scent.
While the ban means it is still illegal to hunt and kill foxes, animal right groups argue trail hunting permissions are used as a vehicle to circumvent the 2005 law, with Labour describing it in its manifesto as a “smokescreen” for brutal killings.
Emma Judd, representing the League Against Cruel Sports, said hunts “very rarely lay an actual trail”, adding they are still highly destructive to local wildlife, including livestock. She told the BBC: “If it is laid, it is laid near where wildlife and other animals such as livestock are being kept. So animals do get killed from trail hunting.”
