Reform Party and the Conservative Party are under fire for their participation in trail hunts on Boxing Day, with Nigel Farage and Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake spotted at one such event. Despite the practice of trail hunting using a laid-out scent for the hunt instead of real animals, critics argue that foxes are still at risk of harm. The Labour Party, aiming to enhance animal welfare, has pledged to outlaw this controversial practice as part of its Animal Welfare Strategy, amidst ongoing concerns by animal rights activists who view trail hunting as a cover for hunting wild animals.
Labour MP Luke Charters MP criticized Reform and the Tories for prioritizing hunting over the welfare of working people, stating that while they defend hunts, Labour is focusing on modernizing animal welfare laws and addressing pressing issues like cost of living and healthcare. Hunt supporters, opposing the ban on trail hunting, gathered in large numbers on Boxing Day, as Emma Slawinksi, CEO of League Against Cruel Sports, accused trail hunters of failing to comply with wildlife protection laws over the years, ultimately leading to the proposed ban on trail hunting. She emphasized that trail hunting is often a guise for unlawful hunting practices, and the impending ban is a consequence of the hunts’ own actions.