“Liz, I understand that you really hate fox hunting, and I respect your right to hold that opinion. Around yourself you have built a circle of friends who share your views. Birds of a feather stick together.
If you canvas people on the street on foxhunting they will give you their views. Lets assume the majority are anti fox hunting. My question is 'Will this change the way they vote at the next election' I believe it won't. Floating voters will tend to weigh up the pros and cons of each party on a number of issues, such as past performance, and pledges ranging from taxation, economic recovery, to Europe. They then work out, on balance, which party most reflects their views and aspirations.
By making foxhunting their key issue Labour would allow the Torys to take command of the major economic issues that affect people in this country.

You and your friends (I would guess) will be voting Labour in the election, so your votes are already in the bag. What Labour needs to do to avoid a complete wipe out is to shift their focus back to key issues to entice voters away from the Tories.

Labour could also be embarrassed trying to defend legislation which is seriously flawed, and difficult for the police to enforce or the courts to interpret. David Camerons suggestion to bring back 'licenced hunting' may then seem attractive.”

“Mike, you may be indifferent to this issue, which is sad, because it is a very fundamental one of cruelty and picking on a small victim to bully and hurt, and that's important. But I think you are wrong that only a tiny number of people really hate hunting. You should hear what my neighbours and friends here in the Cotswolds have to say about it, and we are all in the middle of heavily hunted territory. When the hunt are out, it causes real misery and distress to many ordinary people. I spoke to an old chap recently who used to be a lorry driver, and about thirty years ago he saw a fox killed by hounds on the road right in front of him. He says he never forgot the terror on the fox's face, the brutality of it, and the arrogance of the hunters as they ignored the motorists who were forced to wait while the horror took place.

A lot of people care - its just the hunters and the newspapers (run by hunters!) who say it is a non-issue.

And Sasha, shame on you for letting your enjoyment of a good gallop across the countryside matter more than what is actually happening up ahead of you.”

“I have to put a hunt supporters view in just to prove another point.
I for one used to go hunting and really thoroughly enjoyed it! NOT to kill, but the freedom of galloping on my horse was exhilarating.

I understand why people object but I do think that you should listen to the other side of the argument as well.”

“Interesting how many upcountry readers have piled in to support the Labour party ban. Speaks volumes.

How many of them are wearing leather shoes, eating meat, and taking advantage of other animal products 'cruelly' obtained through farming methods? Hypocrites abound!”

“Liz - I think you are being a little unfair to Charles with your comment. I detect no"hatred and bitterness." just a little gentle mockery.

Oh, and be careful what you say about the Nazis.....

Adolf Hitler banned hunting in 1934”

“Well, the Labour tactic certainly worked a treat in Norwich!”

“Liz, your probably right, the Tories will undoubtedly lose a few votes over this one. They can afford to - as Labour have lost the plot.
The one person I would not wish to be at the moment is a Labour stratagist. With Gordon Brown presiding over a cataloge of failures, and so far behind in the opinion polls, I would struggle for ideas too.

As I see it, there are a tiny minority of people who are passionate about foxhunting and a tiny minority of people who really hate it. The majority of us are indifferent about the issue.

Labour is finished unless they concentrate their campaign on the real issues. Foxhunting is just a sideshow”

“:| You are very silly person Liz.. . Can you not read girl? . . There is not even a HINT of bitterness in ANY of my posts here! . . I had my usual fun with Justin; and no doubt he will come back at me in due course, and I had a swipe at the Labour party, and Theo. . But he'd think there was something going wrong with his technique if I left him out. . Now I think you should apologise for that unjustified comment, and also your vitriol aimed at those who defend hunting. . It was just completely over the top and uncalled for. . And never in my life have I been consumed with hatred and bitterness as you now appear to be.”

“And I thought all the intelligent hounds were now hunting Gordon Brown.”

“Whenever I look at "comments" which relate to hunting issues, I am astounded once again by the vitriol which the hunters use as common currency. Charles is a perfect example - Charles you sound quite unbalanced, and consumed with hatred and bitterness.

The civilised part of society, thankfully the majority, are revolted by hunting - or course they are. Hunters will always try and justify their cruelty - brutal people always have - look at the Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. Demonising the victim is standard practice, as is claiming to "know best" and pouring ridicule on those who wish to restrain the butchery.

The Tories will undoubtedly lose votes over this one - it is yet to penetrate most potential Tory voters' minds that this is really the level at which the Tories operate - giving a big reward to all those lawbreaking hunters, thus combining contempt for the law with approval for cruelty. When it does penetrate, it will affect the votes - as did Labour's promise to ban hunting in 1997. Scorn it all you like, the British people broadly object to cruelty to animals and it matters to a great many of them.”