Hundreds of hunt supporters gathered in a Devon town square on Boxing Day, defiantly proceeding with a centuries-old tradition despite being explicitly told they were "not welcome" by local councillors and wildlife presenter Chris Packham.
Defiance in the Face of Opposition
The annual meet of the Tiverton Foxhounds outside the Half Moon pub went ahead on Friday 27 December 2025, as it has for roughly 200 years. This occurred despite Tiverton Town Council recently voting to back a motion stating the hunt was unwelcome in the town on Boxing Day "or any other day."
Television presenter and naturalist Chris Packham had previously branded the event "ethically and morally bankrupt" and lobbied councillors to reject it. In response, Kelvin Thomas of the Tiverton Foxhounds, addressing the crowd from horseback, suggested Packham should "leave rural issues to us" and focus on his own job.
Around 50 protesters also assembled, holding placards and a cardboard cutout of Packham, before the hunt moved off at approximately 11am.
National Backlash Against Proposed Trail Hunting Ban
The local dispute in Devon unfolded against a backdrop of significant national tension. The event coincided with a government announcement of plans to ban trail hunting, a practice introduced after the 2004 Hunting Act outlawed fox hunting. Ministers claim it is too often used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting.
This proposed ban, a Labour manifesto pledge, has sparked a fierce reaction from rural communities. The Countryside Alliance has warned that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has "alienated rural people," citing a poll where 65% of voters felt the Labour administration unfairly neglects country communities.
Hunt Leaders Vow to 'Fight'
At the major Duke of Beaufort Hunt meet in Badminton, Gloucestershire, joint master Will Bryer told thousands of spectators the countryside was "under assault and siege." He vowed the government would have a "fight" on its hands, urging supporters not to stop believing in the future of hunting.
Similarly, Jane Bowen, chairman and master of The Grove Rufford Hunt in South Yorkshire, pleaded for the government to "please leave us alone," asserting that hunts operate legally and are misunderstood by policymakers.
Consultation and Continued Conflict
A public consultation on the trail hunting ban is scheduled for early 2026. Animal rights groups have welcomed the proposed legislation. Rob Pownall of Protect the Wild argued that Boxing Day meets normalise cruelty behind a facade of tradition, making peaceful resistance both legitimate and necessary.
The day's events highlight a deep and enduring cultural divide, with hunting communities framing their activity as a vital part of rural heritage and economy, contributing over £100 million annually, while opponents see it as an outdated and cruel spectacle.
