I AGREE with R Benterman (Oxford Mail, May 13) that if we do not respect animal life we will not do so to humans either. After all, we have descended from animals.

Our new leaders, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, are two young men who have come from similar backgrounds of immense privilege and wealth due to accident of birth.

Now they have the power to give all they can to poor people who never enjoyed their opportunities.

Let them remember, too, our wild animals which strive to live in often desperately harsh circumstances, and not exacerbate their suffering by bringing back the sadistic horrors of blood sports.

GRAHAM BUTLER, Banbury Road, Bicester