Editing Hunting Act 2004 (section)

==Perspectives==

===Public opinion===
Public opinion has tended to be in favour of the ban on fox hunting:
* A survey commissioned by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in 2002 indicated that a majority of people (57%) agreed with the statement that 'hunting with dogs is never acceptable'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yougov.com/yougov_website/asp_besPollArchives/pdf/TEL020101010.pdf|title=Poll|publisher=Yougov}}</ref>
*A survey by MORI for the [[BBC]] carried out in February 2005 found that there was a plurality of support for the new legislation, but not an [[absolute majority]] (47% supporting, 26% opposed).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipsos-mori.com/polls/2005/bbc-countryfile.shtml |publisher=Ipsos MORI |date=16 February 2005 |access-date=19 February 2008 |title=Attitudes to the Hunting Ban |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131175028/http://www.ipsos-mori.com/polls/2005/bbc-countryfile.shtml |archive-date=31 January 2008 }}</ref>
*In 2009, Ipsos MORI found that a total of 75% supported the ban on fox hunting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/2479/Public-Opinion-on-Hunting.aspx|title=Public Opinion on Hunting |date=5 October 2009 |publisher=Ipsos MORI|access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>
* In 2010, the figure was almost identical, with 76% being opposed to repealing the Hunting Act, including with 71% of rural residents. There was 18% support for repeal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/2714/Public-Opinion-on-Hunting.aspx|publisher=Ipsos MORI|title=Public Opinion on Hunting |date=26 December 2010|access-date=17 November 2011}}</ref>
*A poll by MORI in December 2012 showed no change on fox hunting, with 76% being opposed to moves to make it legal, rising to 81% in respect to deer hunting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/dec/25/britons-fox-hunting-ban-survey|title=Most Britons support fox hunting ban, survey finds|quote=Poll before Boxing Day meets shows 76% are against moves to make fox hunting legal, rising to 81% for deer hunting | location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Martin|last=Wainwright|date=25 December 2012}}</ref>
*Ahead of Boxing Day 2016 a poll was released which indicated opposition to fox hunting had reached all-time highs, with 84% of voters, including 82% of those in rural areas, opposing fox hunting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/fox-hunting-boxing-day-poll-opposition-all-time-high-theresa-may-hunting-ban-act-vote-a7495336.html|title=Fox hunting opposition hits all-time high, latest poll finds |first=Jon |last=Stone |newspaper=The Independent|date=25 December 2016|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref>
*An opinion poll in May 2017 revealed overwhelming public opposition to hunting with dogs, including the repeal of the Hunting Act 2004. 64% of voters disagreed with the statement that "the ban on fox hunting should be reversed", including 46% who "strongly disagreed". Just 11% supported the repeal of the ban. The poll was published in the aftermath of the release of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] manifesto for the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], which promised a vote on the repeal of the Act.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-manifesto-bring-back-fox-hunting-only-one-in-10-voters-support-a7757891.html|title=Only one in 10 voters supports Tory manifesto pledge on fox hunting |first=Andrew |last=Grice |newspaper=The Independent|date=26 May 2017|access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> Only 16% of Conservative voters want the ban overturned, with 50% opposed.

=== Supporters of the bill ===
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2020}}
*[[Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] (RSPCA), charity operating in England and Wales which promotes animal welfare<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged |title=What have we changed? |publisher=RSPCA |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="supporters1">{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/fox-hunting-ban-what-happens-5719214 |title=The fox hunting ban: What happens next? |first=Helen |last=Whitehouse |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=18 May 2015 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[League Against Cruel Sports]], a UK-based animal welfare charity which campaigns to stop blood sports such as fox hunting, hare and deer hunting; game bird shooting; and animal fighting<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.league.org.uk/media/filer_public/e9/26/e926f7c8-9cd7-410d-8ad4-10691808e2bd/hunting_act_report_2014.pdf |title=REPORT: The Hunting Act 2004. Ten years on |publisher=League Against Cruel Sports |date=November 2014 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="supporters1"/>
*[[Hunt Saboteurs Association]], a United Kingdom organisation that uses hunt sabotage as a means of direct action to stop fox hunting
*[[Animal Welfare Party]], is a minor political party in the United Kingdom campaigning on an animal welfare, environment and health platform<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animalwelfareparty.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/AWP-2017-General-Election-Manifesto-For-People-Animals-and-The-Environment.pdf |title=For People, Animals & The Environment Animal Welfare Party 2017 Manifesto |publisher=Animal Welfare Party |date=2017 |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[Patrick Moore]], an amateur astronomer who attained prominence in that field as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter<ref name="secrettory">{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/fox-hunt-masters-secretly-mobilising-10383202 |title=Exclusive: Secret Tory plot to bring back fox hunting revealed in leaked email |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=9 May 2017 |first=Jack |last=Blanchard |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>
*Conservatives Against Fox Hunting<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservativesagainstfoxhunting.com |title=Home page |publisher=Conservatives Against Fox Hunting |access-date=6 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="conservatives_against">{{cite web |url=https://conservativesagainstfoxhunting.com/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=Conservatives Against Fox Hunting |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="powa">{{cite web |url=http://powa.org.uk/ukhuntingnewsfrompowa/id3.html |title=2014-15 HUNTING SEASON |date=June 2015 |publisher=Protect Our Wild Animals Limited |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>
*Conservative MPs [[Caroline Dinenage]],<ref name="conservatives_against"/><ref name="powa"/> [[Tracey Crouch]],<ref name="conservatives_against"/><ref name="powa"/> [[Mike Weatherley]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/23/cameron-tory-revolt-hunting-hounds |title=Cameron faces Tory revolt over move to ease ban on hunting with hounds |first=Mark |last=Townsend |date=23 March 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="powa"/> [[Dominic Raab]],<ref name="conservatives_against"/><ref name="powa"/> Sir [[Roger Gale]],<ref name="conservatives_against"/><ref name="powa"/> [[Stuart Andrew]],<ref name="powa"/> [[Simon Kirby]],<ref name="powa"/> [[Caroline Ansell]], [[Ann Widdecombe]]<ref name="widdecombe">{{cite web |url= https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=1701&dmp=1050 |title=Ann Widdecombe MP, Maidstone and The Weald |publisher=The Public Whip |access-date=24 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="widdecombe_and_farmers">{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fox-hunting-david-cameron-supports-2371790 |title=David Cameron sparks fury as he supports plan to 'water down' the fox hunting ban |first1=James |last1=Lyons |first2=Tom |last2=McTague |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=15 Oct 2013 |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref> and [[Lee Scott (UK politician)|Lee Scott]]<ref name="powa"/>
*[[Brian May]], musician, songwriter, record producer, animal rights activist and astrophysicist.<ref name="supporters1"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/sep/29/brian-may-me-and-animal-passions |title=Brian May: Me and my animal passions |first=Aida |last=Edemariam |date=29 September 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brian-may-theresa-mays-stance-10581169 |title=Brian May: Theresa May's stance on fox hunting has proved she is a dangerous woman, hell-bent on establishing herself as a virtual dictator |first=Brian |last=May |date=7 June 2017 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[Paul McCartney]], singer, songwriter and musician<ref name="supporters2">{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ricky-gervais-bill-oddie-join-6044519 |title=Exclusive: Ricky Gervais and Bill Oddie join Paul McCartney to slam Tory plans to change fox hunting law |newspaper=Daily Mirror |first1=Tom |last1=Bryant |first2=Tom |last2=Parry |date=10 July 2015 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[Ricky Gervais]], comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director<ref name="supporters1"/><ref name="supporters2"/>
*[[Roger Moore]], actor

=== Opponents of the bill ===
*Countryside Alliance<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countryside-alliance.org/hunting-act-must-go/|title=The Hunting Act must go - Countryside Alliance|date=11 May 2017|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="secrettory"/>
*[[Theresa May]], later [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40491921 |title=Fox hunting vote shelved by government |publisher=BBC News |date=4 July 2017 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/what-is-fox-hunting-and-why-was-it-banned |title=What is fox hunting and why was it banned? |first=Mark |last=Carwardine |website=Discover Wildlife |date=1 January 2022 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="secrettory"/>
*[[Clarissa Dickson Wright]], celebrity cook, writer, journalist and TV host<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Steven |date=2014-03-17 |title=TV chef Clarissa Dickson Wright dies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/17/clarissa-dickson-wright-tv-chef-dies-two-fat-ladies |access-date=2025-05-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*[[Charles III]], later King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, allegedly commented that "if hunting was banned, he might as well leave the country and spend the rest of his life skiing".<ref name="Prince Charles on hunting">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/oct/17/prince-charles-policy-britain-run|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2012-10-17 | location=London|first1=Rob|last1=Evans|first2=Robert|last2=Booth|title=Princely opinions: Charles has his say about the running of Britain}}</ref>
*[[Jeremy Irons]], actor and activist<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/feb/21/hunting.ruralaffairs |title=Both sides claim victory as hunts stick to rules |first=Owen |last=Bowcott |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 February 2005 |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[Jeremy Clarkson]], journalist and broadcaster<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Caroline |date=2012-12-17 |title=David Cameron's local hunt convicted after RSPCA prosecution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/dec/17/david-cameron-hunt-convicted-rspca |access-date=2025-05-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*[[Otis Ferry]], son of musician Bryan Ferry<ref>{{cite news |author=Jones, G. |date=16 September 2004 |title=Hunt brawl in Commons |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1471835/Hunt-brawl-in-Commons.html |accessdate=27 December 2008 |publisher=Telegraph |location=London}}</ref>
*[[Roger Waters]], bassist in Pink Floyd<ref>{{cite news |date=4 October 2005 |title=Roger Waters: French Revolution |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/roger-waters-french-revolution-509524.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005013607/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/roger-waters-french-revolution-509524.html |archive-date=5 October 2010 |access-date=29 May 2014 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>
*[[Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust]], a British charitable organisation using science to promote game and wildlife management as an essential part of nature conservation<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildlife is suffering – from those unwilling to compromise - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust |url=https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2020/may/wildlife-is-suffering-%E2%80%93-from-those-unwilling-to-compromise/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=www.gwct.org.uk}}</ref>
*[[Farmers' Union of Wales]], a member organisation, was formed in 1955 to protect and advance the interests of those who derive an income from Welsh agriculture<ref name="widdecombe_and_farmers"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/436738/Ministers-consider-relaxing-anti-fox-hunting-laws-which-would-allow-full-pack-of-hounds |title=Ministers consider relaxing anti-fox hunting laws which would allow full pack of hounds |first=Dion |last=Dassanayake |newspaper=Daily Express |date=14 October 2013|access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[The Middle Way Group]], a group of Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and [[Plaid Cymru]] parliamentarians<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1489211/Hunt-ban-has-caused-rise-in-fox-suffering.html |title=Hunt ban 'has caused rise in fox suffering' |first=Charles |last=Clover |date=3 May 2005 |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/06/08/brian-fanshawe-master-cottesmore-hunt-renowned-horsemanship/ |title=Brian Fanshawe, Master of the Cottesmore Hunt who was renowned for his horsemanship and his prolific fox-catching – obituary |date=8 June 2019 |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>
*Union of Country Sports Workers, a former trade union<ref>{{Cite web |last=Portwin |first=Polly |date=2015-05-12 |title=Country sports trade union to be dissolved |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/union-of-country-sports-workers-492821 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=Horse & Hound |language=en}}</ref>
===Neutral===
*[[National Farmers Union of England and Wales|National Farmers Union]], a member organisation/industry association for farmers in England and Wales<ref>{{cite web|title=NFU position on foxhunting|url=https://www.nfuonline.com/cross-sector/environment/wildlife/wildlife-news/nfu-position-on-foxhunting/|website=NFU (National Farmers Union)|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref>