Pressure mounts over Boxing Day hunts as ministers accused of picking another fight with rural communities

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Labour government’s plans came under the spotlight as the annual Boxing Day hunts met on Thursday, with the Countryside Alliance warning that further changes to the law are “completely unjustified”, as people were carrying out a legitimate, legal activity that brought the rural community together. open image in gallery Ministers are reportedly looking at imposing harsher penalties Labour, which introduced the original ban on hunting with dogs, pledged in its manifesto this year to ban trail hunting, as part of what it says are measures to “improve animal welfare”. Emma Judd, head of campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Hunts may claim they are following a pre-laid animal scent trail, known as trail hunting, but this has been shown to be nothing but a smokescreen to conceal old-fashioned illegal hunting.” open image in gallery Protesters in Westminster from Peta animal rights group demonstrate against fox hunting in 2020 Meanwhile, analysis compiled in May this year by the pressure group indicated that a majority of people support strengthening laws preventing fox hunting. open image in gallery The Labour government’s plans were under the spotlight as the annual Boxing Day hunts met on Thursday It comes amid reports that fox hunters are set to face harsher penalties under plans being pursued by the government, leading countryside groups to accuse the government of “picking another fight” with rural communities.