Beware of Tory goal (From Oxford Mail)

Beware of Tory goal

7:01pm Tuesday 24th February 2009 in

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IN HER LETTER (Hunting Tories still outdated, Oxford Mail, February 17), Penny Little is quite right: it is in the nature of politicians to express in public what they think the public wish to hear or read, but to be more circumspect around contentious issues.

Thus Labour in opposition promised to introduce an act banning the hunting of wild animals with dogs. It was a popular move and undoubtedly greatly assisted in the party’s subsequent election.

The Tories, misjudging the mood of the electorate, staged elaborate demonstrations in favour of hunting, and did themselves no favours, except within the ranks of those already convinced of their right to pursue a cruel sport.

The current absence of any wide public claim by the Tories to repeal the Hunting Act is redolent of subterfuge – an artifice employed to its fullest extent by hunters trying to outwit both the quarry and the persistent monitors with their cameras.

Do not be fooled by the political froth. Labour may not be perfect, but at least they are open about their perception of the future and do not seek to endow a minority of the population with the right to torture animals for entertainment.

BEA BRADLEY Cuxham Road Watlington