Christmas hunts continue on MoD grounds after Shapps rejects campaigners' demand for ban

Hounds have been allowed to hunt on MoD property after Grant Shapps fought back against activists. Photo: CHARLOTTE GRAHAM FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Grant Shapps took steps this month to protect trail hunting on MoD land by rejecting calls to ban it, The Telegraph reports.

The Defense Secretary received a lengthy letter from the head Anti-Cruelty Leagues. The sportsman is calling for the practice to be banned in the MoD in October.

But he responded this month by refusing the request, meaning the hunt could continue in the MoD on Boxing Day and throughout the Christmas period.< /p>

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Mr Shapps also refused to grant the body access to the MoD to observe the hunt, sticking to his predecessor Ben Wallace's decision to end the previous agreement.

A source close to Mr Shapps said: «Grant Shapps believes that drag hunting is a legal activity, and supports the right of people to continue to engage in legal activities.

“He supports the right to protest, but animal rights protesters are not law enforcement and they should not intimidate people.”< /p>

Tens of thousands of hunting supporters attended rallies on Tuesday in what is expected to be the last Boxing Day gathering before the next general election.

The new laws are a waste of time.

The Rural Alliance, which has more than 100,000 members and supporters, used the event to urge Labor not to tighten the existing hunting ban.

Polly Portwin, director of hunting for the Countryside Alliance, said any new legislation tightening hunting laws would be a «waste of time».

The Ministry of Defense is one of the largest landowners in the country. In 2022, it owned 232,300 hectares of land in the UK, equivalent to 1 percent of the country.

Fox hunting has been banned since 2004 in England and Wales by the Hunting Act 2004 and since 2002 in Scotland by the Hunting Act 2004. protection of wild mammals (Scotland).

But hunting on trails that allow people to walk is prohibited. or on horseback to follow a trail along a predetermined route with hounds or hounds is still permitted.

Opponents of the hunt insist the practice is used as a smokescreen for traditional hunting — a claim rejected by those who is walking along the path. hunting.

In his letter to Mr Shapps, Andy Knott, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, argued that his organization should be given access to MoD lands to re-monitor the hunt and called for all hunting on MoD land to be banned. /p>

The Daily Telegraph found copies of a letter sent by Mr Knott and a response from Mr Shapp in December showing the request had been refused.

“This remains a legitimate activity”

Mr Knott said: «The evidence of illegal hunting across the country and on MoD estates is compelling and well reported in the national media, and provides context for your predecessor's decision to protect hunting from scrutiny.»

“I believe this letter sets out the rationale for the immediate exclusion of all types of hunting from DoD property. I am also confident that we do not need further legal remedies and repeat my offer to meet with you in person if you wish. It's time to act. I urge you to do this.»

Mr Shapps responded: “While I note your concerns about hunting on a defense estate, provided it is carried out in accordance with the law, it remains a lawful activity.”

He added that the Department «remains committed to ensuring that hunting is carried out in accordance with the law.»

The Conservatives promised to end the hunting ban when they took office in 2010, but have since reneged on that promise.

>Ms Portwyn, of the Countryside Alliance, said on Boxing Day: “The hunt was once again welcomed by huge numbers of supporters who gathered in all weathers in high streets, town squares, outside pubs and in fields on the outskirts of villages to welcome the hounds to Boxing Day.

“That any politician or activist could look at these scenes and want to see that this way of life is outlawed as a political hit is deeply worrying. Any new legislation would be a waste of time and would lead to rural divisions the likes of which have not been seen since the last Labor government introduced the Hunting Act in 2004.»