No mention of hunting in King’s Speech 2024
Countryside campaigners welcome the omission but warn against ‘handing an excuse on a plate’ to all those who are enemies to hunting
Hunting was not mentioned in the King’s Speech on 17 July, but Countryside Alliance chairman Lord Herbert of South Downs warned “we are not out of the woods”.
The King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament set out the new Labour Government’s priorities for the months ahead, following the general election. Despite Labour’s manifesto promise to ban trail-hunting, there was no mention of it.
Speaking at the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show shortly after the delivery of the King’s Speech in the House of Lords, Lord Herbert welcomed the omission of hunting but warned: “We must not hand an excuse on a plate to malevolent members of Parliament and pressure groups, to give them the excuse to pass wholly unacceptable and draconian legislation.
“It is our behaviour that will really matter in the months going forward so we can successfully persuade members of Parliament that there is no need to change the law, that the law is being upheld and that to change the law would be draconian, illiberal and wrong.”
He added that a concerted effort led by the rural community, the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) and the CA was the only way to change perceptions of trail-hunting.
Given the Labour Government’s manifesto and its majority, it is still highly likely that there will be legislation at some point, but how the Government intends to define its commitment to “ban trail-hunting” is still uncertain. CA chief executive Tim Bonner said: “The image hunting projects over the coming seasons will have a significant impact on the Government’s thinking and how far it believes it has to go.”
Jak Abrahams, BASC’s political affairs manager, said: “The King’s Speech contained little on Government plans for conservation. However, the Environment Secretary has committed to nature recovery as one of the department’s core priorities.
“In the meantime, BASC will be seeking meetings with the Defra team, including the Secretary of State, at the earliest opportunity. We will know more about Labour’s intentions once we have engaged with Ministers and we will continue to highlight the vital role of sustainable shooting in protecting and enhancing nature on an area 20 times the size of land owned by RSPB and National Trust.”
