LEAVE OR REMAIN? REES-MOGG VOTES TO QUIT ILLEGAL HARE HUNT
The HSA can reveal that Tory MP and Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has recently cancelled his membership of a controversial hunt group.
Rees-Mogg has been a paying subscriber to the Chilmark & Clifton Foot Beagles for about a decade, but has recently decided not to renew his subscription. Like all beagle packs, the Chilmark & Clifton Foot continue to hunt hares under the guise of “trail hunting.” The HSA believes that Rees-Mogg is trying to sever his links with hunting before the general election in a few weeks time.
HSA Press Officer, Lee Moon commented, “When even a fanatical hunt supporter like Jacob Rees-Mogg is distancing himself from a hunt you have to ask what is going on. If the Chilmark & Clifton Foot are really engaged in trail hunting then why is Rees-Mogg turning his back on them?”
Rees-Mogg also has close family ties to the neighbouring Mendip Farmers Hunt and regularly hosts them at his Somerset home. Hunt sabs have frequently had to intervene when this hunt have chased foxes and blocked badger setts.
Notes to editors:
(1) The Chilmark & Clifton Foot Beagles are one of about sixty beagle packs that hunt hares on foot.
(2) Footage of the Mendip Farmers Hunt chasing a fox can be seen here :https://www.league.org.uk/
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Kimblewick Hunt Terrier Men found Guilty of Animal Cruelty
Hunt Saboteurs Association News Release 30th October 2019
Mark Vincent and Ian Parkinson have been found guilty of keeping a fox captive and inflicting suffering upon it in breach of the Animal Welfare Act. Both men were employed by the Kimblewick Hunt at the time of the offence on 1st January this year. The trial took place at Oxford Magistrates Court and the two will be sentenced on 26th November. The Judge in the case advised the defendants to expect a custodial sentence.
The prosecution came about after footage was passed to the Hunt Saboteurs Association by the Covert Film Unit showing the two men releasing a captive fox to be chased and killed by the Kimblewick hunts hounds. Their actions not only cause unnecessary harm to the fox but are also carried out to facilitate illegal hunting.
The footage was filmed on New Years Day when the hunt met at Moreton, Thame, Oxon. It shows the hunt terrier men using draining rods to force the fox, that they’ve been holding captive, out of a drainage pipe then being thrown into the wood for hounds to chase. The terriermen can clearly be heard communicating with the huntsman agreeing when the best time is to release the fox which is given a brief head start so that the hunt riders experience a chase rather than a quick kill.
Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “We're pleased that justice has been done and look forward to Vincent and Parkinson receiving the prison sentence their actions deserve.
What we also want to see is further prosecutions against the huntsman, Hunt masters and the Kimblewick Hunt itself. This was clearly a criminal conspiracy between the two defendants and the rest of the hunt to release a captive fox to be illegally hunted and all those involved should be punished. We also expect the Countryside Alliance to condemn this hunt and for the Masters of Foxhounds Association to kick them out of the association. Anything less will be tacit approval of animal cruelty and illegal hunting.”
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Thurlow Hunt Accept Illegal Hunting Charge
Hunt Saboteurs Association News Release 23rd October 2019
Chris Amatt, ex-huntsman of the Thurlow Hunt, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court this week to appeal his conviction for illegal hunting that he received in March this year. The prosecution used evidence gathered by Beds and Bucks and North Cambs Hunt Sabs.
However it transpired that the defence were prepared to offer a deal before the appeal took place. It was suggested that Amatt would accept the conviction for hunting if the prosecution no longer pursued the case against him for the assault charge. It would appear that the reasoning behind this was Amatt's urgent requirement to travel to the USA for personal reasons and this would not be possible with a conviction for violence.
Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “The Hunting Act conviction was always the priority in this case. Regardless of the assault charges being dropped we are more than happy with the outcome and can add the Thurlow Hunt to the list of hunts we can now call criminal organisations and warn others that the tide is turning and you no longer have the protection you once enjoyed.
Hunt saboteurs priority is always to save animals lives but on the rare occasions that we can’t achieve that we’ll always pursue hunts through the courts.”
Original Press Release can be viewed here:
https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/
Original case video and post can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/
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