Press Release: Sean Woodcock MP Joins The New Hunting Ban

Sean Woodcock, Member of Parliament for Banbury, declares his support for The New Hunting Ban.

Today, 6th June 2025, at 3.30pm it will be announced that Sean Woodcock MP has joined the The New Hunting Ban. The New Hunting Ban is bringing together parliamentarians, experts and stakeholders to author the gold standard in hunting legislation, that will finally deliver a watertight ban on hunting with hounds. 

Sean is the fifth MP so far to offer his support to The New Hunting Ban, which has been formed ahead of the government's announced consultation on trail hunting later this year. Twenty years since the implementation of the Hunting Act 2004 was supposed to end hunting with hounds, this blood sport continues unabated, killing British wildlife in the most brutal fashion. In Banbury, Sean's constituency, the Heythrop Hunt and Warwickshire Hunt, have been caught red-handed hunting live foxes - an issue he's already raised on the floor of the House of Commons. Hunts also abuse dogs, antagonise locals and disrupt rural life. 

The New Hunting Ban's supporting Members of Parliament and Advisory Panel came together for the first time this week to begin the process of scrutinising the Hunting Act and recommending changes to close its loopholes. Respected animal rights groups such as Protect The Wild, Action Against Foxhunting and Verify Humanity joined MPs to discuss legal changes that would see the end of the organised killing of wildlife with dogs. In future, The New Hunting Ban plans to host public hearings at which parliamentarians will hear expert testimony to help inform their legislative recommendations. 

At the announcement of his membership today, Sean said:

“I am proud that the last Labour government legislated to ban fox hunting. But unfortunately, there are loopholes which are being exploited and allowing the ripping apart of foxes by dogs to carry on unpunished."

"Hunting with hounds is a relic of a bygone era, and has no place in a modern, compassionate society. Residents across my constituency have made it clear that they want it to be stopped."