Sir – It is, regrettably, an indisputable fact that the hunting fraternity are determined to restore their primitive sport to legality by the election of a Tory Government and they will use whatever means at their disposal to bring that about.

Expect unsurpassed quantities of pre-election material from that quarter, extolling the insuperable qualities possessed by Cameron et al, with nary a hint of their avowed intention to annul the Hunting Act.

The British public is, I believe, generally compassionate, favouring fair play in all respects, and the heartless persecution of creatures targeted for sport, with all the concomitant cruelty, is not acceptable to the majority and a pro-hunt candidate will not, in most cases, be chosen.

That, of course, is where the machinery of politics comes into play: Tory candidates will proclaim the restoration of all the qualities of life that may presently be seen as wanting — but there will not be so much as a squeak in favour of legalised bloodsports.

It is early in the lead-up to the election now, but soon the party political machinery will come into full play and, behind the election promises from Tory candidates, there will lurk the unspoken but avowed intent to restore hunting to the statute book.

Equally culpable is the established Church, whose leaders prefer to think that God is blind, or unmoved, when a living animal is eviscerated for the pleasure of humans.

Bea Bradley, Watlington