Though she has never hunted with hounds and is unlikely ever to do so, she believes hunting is a natural instinct in both man and animal, particuarly foxes, who like some men and women, also hunt and kill for sport, and often don't consume what they have killed. I do not hunt, shoot, fish, but I live in the countryside and fully support people's right to hunt with hounds. Apart from the important principle of people being allowed to live their own lives hunting foxes is both a natural and humane way to keep them under control. I don't suppose townies would feel so friendly to foxes if they had all their pet ducks eaten by foxes as happened to us. But if there is no hunting foxes will be shot, poisoned,gassed much more indiscriminately than now.
Chances are they'll be an endangered species before long.
Also, hunting helps to preserve the natural environment - woods, hedges and so on. If it is banned a lot of that will be ploughed to obtain EU subsidies for yet more cereals we do not need. My view is that Mr Blair is promoting a ban primarily as a sop to the left wing old style class warriors in the Labour party. Having abandoned principle and overt socialism in all other matters, he probably wants a ban to gain some credibility with them. Thanks for the opportunity to comment.