Letter: Puritans in pursuit of fox-hunters

Puritans in pursuit of fox-hunters

Sir: Thank you for publishing Polly Toynbee's sensible and well reasoned article against the banning of fox-hunting ("Labour should go to earth on fox-hunting", 16 June).

As a fox-hunter I think I can say that Labour will be unpleasantly surprised by the amount of anger and resentment that this bill will arouse among a very large number of people, not all of them directly involved in hunting. The knock-on effect of a ban will be appalling and in any case it is an unwarranted intrusion into people's private lives, activities and opinions that smacks of the worst sort of puritanism. I think it a very great pity that they have seen fit to address this issue now, as it detracts from the record of a government that so far in its short life has shown itself to be both willing and able to address really important matters.

I say that with the grudging admiration of one who didn't even vote for them, and here they are caving in to the first shove from a pressure group. It doesn't show them in a good light. They should think again.

Mrs A SPURRIER

Litton Cheney, Dorset