The government has announced its animal welfare strategy, and it’s fair to say it’s pretty far-reaching. It covers everything from rearing pigs and chickens to animal rescue centres and shooting hares, but by far the most controversial proposal is a ban on “trail hunting”.
This, as the name suggests, is where a scented rag is used instead of a live fox, for a hunt with horses and hounds. The practice was allowed to continue after proper foxhunting was banned by legislation in England and Wales in 2004 (a ban was imposed in Scotland in 2002). It’s going to be controversial.
Why is the government doing this?
There isn’t an overwhelming case, but it is in the 2024 Labour manifesto, and unequivocally: “Labour will improve animal welfare. We will ban trail hunting and the import of hunting trophies.
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