Kemi Badenoch has been criticised for supporting a hunt whose member is being investigated over an alleged fox-killing by hounds, after footage of the apparent incident emerged.
The video, deemed too distressing for the Mirror to publish, shows a huntsman climbing into woodland near the village of Lower Swell, Gloucestershire, to recover the body of a fox on the morning of Friday, September 18, and then running off with it. Blood and internal fox body parts were found at the scene.
Footage and investigation
The man is a member of the Heythrop Hunt – a group whose fundraiser Ms Badenoch spoke at in January. The British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), hunting's governing body, confirmed it was probing the Heythrop member.
A spokesman said: “We will review the footage and seek an account from those present to establish the facts. The BHSA requires all recognised hunts and its members to comply with the law and its core principles and rules. Any evidence of suspected unlawful activity is a matter for the police to assess.”
Political backlash
Ms Badenoch used her speech at the fundraiser to criticise Labour’s proposed ban on trail hunting, in which hounds follow a pre-laid scent trail. The ban was put forward amid fears that trail hunting was used as a smokescreen for genuine fox hunting.
The top Tory said: “A ban is completely the wrong priority for the country, and the Conservatives would oppose it. This is not about animal welfare; it is a political gesture driven by pressure from a small group of hard-left MPs.”
Reactions and context
Labour MP Ruth Jones said: “Kemi Badenoch saying the ban is unnecessary only shows how out of touch she is with public opinion. Over 80% of the general public, including farmers and rural communities support a ban on fox hunting. It is cruel and barbaric.”
Fellow Labour MP Irene Campbell said of Ms Badenoch supporting the Hunt: “This certainly does not bode well for the future of animal welfare in the UK, and perhaps indicates the path the Tories may be taking us down.”
Rowan Hughes of the Hunt Saboteurs Association, which obtained the Lower Swell video, said: “Every week we hear from rural people who want to bring an end to hunting. Rural communities are far from being united by a love of animal cruelty and blood sports, that is just a vocal minority.”
Emma Slawinski, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The government is absolutely right to strengthen fox hunting laws and to ban trail hunting.”
It is not the first time Heythrop Hunt members have been suspected of illegal activity. In 2012, two were convicted of hunting foxes illegally, in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
Defra is currently weighing up the responses to a public consultation on a trail hunting ban. Gloucestershire Constabulary said a rural crime officer was told of the Lower Swell allegation. The Tory party declined to comment.
