Public backs tougher fox hunting laws as trail hunting consultation fails to cut through.
New nationally representative polling finds majority support for broader changes to hunting law, while awareness of the Government’s trail hunting consultation remains below 20% with only weeks left before its closure.
One of Westminster’s most significant campaigns against hunting with dogs - The New Hunting Ban - has today released new polling showing that the public wants the Government to go further than its promised ban on trail hunting and consider broader reforms to hunting law in England and Wales.
The polling, commissioned by The New Hunting Ban and conducted by Find Out Now, asked a nationally representative sample of more than 1,100 voters about fox hunting, trail hunting and the Government’s current consultation process. Find Out Now are members of the British Polling Council and the Market Research Society.
The results show that more than 60% of respondents believe the Government should take action to end fox hunting. However, fewer than 20% were aware of the Government’s consultation on proposals to prohibit trail hunting.
Crucially, when told that some argue a ban on trail hunting alone would not be enough to end fox hunting, a majority of respondents said the Government should consider broader changes to hunting laws in England and Wales.
Almost a quarter of respondents also said they would be less likely to vote for the party currently in government if fox hunting is still being practised at the time of the next general election.
Campaigners say the findings show a clear public appetite for comprehensive reform of the Hunting Act 2004, rather than a narrow ban on trail hunting that risks leaving other loopholes untouched.
The poll was conducted amid growing concern from campaigners that Defra’s consultation on banning trail hunting is too limited in scope. The Government has so far ruled out wider amendments to the Hunting Act as part of the current process, despite concerns that fox hunting continues under a range of exemptions and loopholes.
The New Hunting Ban argues that this risks repeating the mistakes made in Scotland’s 2023 hunting legislation, where trail laying with animal scent was banned but other smokescreens to cover hunting with dogs were left in place. The League Against Cruel Sports have reported that rebranded ‘drag’ hunts have continued to hunt foxes.
The campaign has also raised concern over reports that Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman told hunting stakeholders at a Defra roundtable to “ignore” the Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill, a Private Member’s Bill tabled by Neil Duncan-Jordan MP. The Bill would require the Government to consider wider legislative change and has been described by campaigners as a “gold standard” model for ending hunting with dogs.
Rhys Giles, Director of The New Hunting Ban, said:
“The public are clear: they want the Government to take action to end fox hunting, and they want ministers to go further than a narrow ban on the smokescreen of trail hunting.
“It’s important for people to submit their views to the Government’s consultation, and we’ve published guidance to help them in doing so, but ministers should be under no illusion: If they believe the public will be satisfied by a ban in name only, informed by a consultation that fewer than one in five voters even knew about, they have another thing coming.
“Because on the day the law changes, animal lovers will not judge this Government by the wording of a press release. They will judge it by the results. If they look out of their kitchen window and see a hunt chasing a terrified fox across a field as if nothing has changed, the backlash will be fierce.
“In a political landscape of tight margins, the quarter of voters saying they would be less likely to support the party in government if fox hunting continues is utterly pivotal. Trail hunting is not the only loophole allowing hunting with dogs to continue. The Government must listen to the public, widen its approach, and finish the job.”
Neil Duncan-Jordan, Member of Parliament for Poole, said:
“People of all ages, in every part of the country oppose fox hunting and want to see decisive action to finally end this blood sport for good.
“I know Ministers will be under pressure from pro-hunt lobbyists, representing a fraction of the population, to ditch our manifesto commitment to strengthening anti-hunting laws – or to dilute proposals so heavily hunting continues unabated.
“That is exactly what happened with the Hunting Act 20 years ago and will happen again if the Government let’s these vested interests get their way.
“The Government should take confidence from the fact the majority of the public are behind us - take on the lobbyists and deliver the change we promised.
“I have an oven-ready bill ready for the Government to adopt that would meet the publics expectation of a workable ban. If we fall short, Ministers risk turning a big win for our party into a massive disappointment that will be seen as a betrayal by millions of animal lovers.”
The New Hunting Ban is calling on the Government to expand its approach beyond trail hunting and adopt comprehensive amendments to the Hunting Act 2004, including measures reflected in Neil Duncan-Jordan MP’s Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill.
The Bill was developed in consultation with campaigners, experts and those with direct experience of enforcing and monitoring hunting law. It seeks to close the loopholes that campaigners say have allowed hunting with dogs to continue since the Hunting Act came into force.
The New Hunting Ban are asking supporters to email their MPs to ask them to support the measures in the Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill and hosting a mass lobby of Parliament on Tuesday 16th June.
Poll Results
Filtered sample size: 1104
Thinking about fox hunting in England and Wales, which of the following best reflects your view?
The government should take action to end fox hunting
60.3%
The government should not take action to end fox hunting
15.2%
Don’t know
24.5%
The government is currently running a consultation on proposals to prohibit trail hunting in England and Wales. Were you aware of this consultation before taking this survey?
Yes, I was aware of it
17.8%
No, I was not aware of it
67.3%
Don’t know
14.9%
Some argue that a ban on trail hunting alone would not be enough to end fox hunting. Do you think the government should consider broader changes to hunting laws in England and Wales?
Yes
53.0%
No
16.1%
Don’t know
30.9%
If fox hunting continues to be practised in England and Wales at the time of the next general election, how would this affect your likelihood of voting for the party currently in government?
More likely to vote for them
3.4%
Less likely to vote for them
24.4%
It would make no difference to how I vote
45.9%
Don’t know
26.4%