“Fox hunting is a bloodsport with no place in the 21st century”
Apparently, banning fox hunting once wasn’t enough, because here we are in 2025, with an MP having to stand up in Parliament and beg the government actually to make it illegal this time. You know, for real. Not pretend-illegal. Not “wink and gallop” illegal. The enforced type of unlawful.
The Hunting Act of 2004 banned hunting mammals with dogs in England and Wales. This means hunting foxes, deer, hares, and mink is all illegal.
However, the MP has pointed out that the lax law means that fox hunters are getting away with it under different names.
According to the League Against Cruel Sports, the Hunting Act has protected animals, and the courts have convicted some people of hunting crimes. However, there seem to be problems enforcing the act, with many illegal hunters getting away with it, unpunished.
It appears the Hunting Act of 2004 has more loopholes than a countryside pub has excuses. Foxes are still getting torn to pieces by dogs in broad daylight, while huntsmen claim they were “accidentally trail riding with a pack of trained killers.” Now an MP is calling bull, asking the government to stop posturing and pass a law that doesn’t need air quotes around the word “ban.”