Government moves to ban trail hunts in England - as MLA says NI fox hunting law at 'advanced stage'

After the previous Labour government outlawed fox hunting in 2004, hunts continued with dogs following animal-based scent trails.

But ministers believe trail hunting is a “smokescreen” for chasing and killing wild animals – and it will launch a consultation on a ban, as promised in Labour’s election manifesto.

Trail hunting mimics a traditional fox hunt, with dogs following an animal-based scent such as fox urine, while hunters follow the pack on horseback. However, the practice is controversial with animal rights groups, who claim hundreds of wild animals were recorded being chased by hounds last year.

Last week, the Countryside Alliance hailed the defeat of a fox hunting ban in the Republic of Ireland, and hit out at a proposal from an Alliance Party MLA to introduce a ban on hunting with dogs in Northern Ireland.

John Blair says his proposals are at an “advanced stage” of drafting – and that there “might” be enough support in the Assembly for it to pass.

Speaking to the News Letter, the South Antrim MLA said he is content that “we're nearing the closing stages of the drafting, and there should be something complete within weeks”. Mr Blair said: “The bill will be designed to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs, where dogs are used to kill the wild mammal, solely due to human pursuits.

“So it will be not only be fox hunting, but also deer hunting – where dogs are used for that – and other forms of hunting. “When the bill is drafted, one of the very first things I will do is offer a meeting to every political party and other members of the Northern Ireland assembly”.

Asked if he was confident that the bill would have majority support, the Alliance MLA said: “I'm confident that there might be enough. I would never take it for granted.

“I will address concerns where possible, and I think I have done that, and continue to engage, to demonstrate to political representatives that the vast majority of public opinion is against hunting wild mammals using dogs”.

Last week, the Countryside Alliance Ireland claimed that Mr Blair is “out of touch” on the issue, after Irish politicians rejected Ruth Coppinger TD’s Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill.

The lobby group said the legislation “would have outlawed one of Ireland’s long standing rural practices” and criticised an “intense urban media campaigning and misplaced political enthusiasm”. It said, common sense had prevailed, “safeguarding rural culture, heritage, and practical wildlife management”.

It said John Blair’s bill was “similarly misguided” and “detached from rural realities, driven by ideology rather than evidence, and disconnected from what people on the island of Ireland actually want”.

Countryside Alliance Ireland Director Gary McCartney said the vote was “a victory for rural Ireland, for communities who understand the land, who understand wildlife management, and who refuse to have their way of life dictated by those with no experience of the countryside. We want to sincerely thank everyone who contacted their TDs to oppose this ban and the TDs who voted against this Bill.”

On the ban in England and Wales, environment minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock said: “In our manifesto we said we would ban trail hunting, and that’s exactly what we’ll do. There is evidence that trail hunting is being used a smokescreen for the hunting of wild animals, and that’s not acceptable. We are working out the best approach to take the ban forward and will run a consultation to seek views in the new year.”