Labour warned of ‘heartbreaking consequences’ as party eyes ‘savage’ hunting ban

The annual tradition involves trailing an artificial animal-based scent in the countryside, letting the hunting dogs follow, who are then pursued by a pack of hunters on horseback.

With the Boxing Day tradition dating back centuries, meets across the British countryside were expected to attract crowds in the tens of thousands today.

Reporting live from Chipping Norton, GB News reporter Will Godley spoke with Amy Aldworth, who explained how a potential ban on the festive tradition could have “heartbreaking” ramifications.

“I’m in serious trouble if it comes in. It’s my entire life, my business. I employ six people,” Ms Aldworth told Will.

She continued: “They’re all going to be redundant. I’ve got 26 horses in my care, all trail hunting horses, and I do not know what I’m going to do with them.

“It makes me feel sick to think that I’m going to have to turf horses out, turf people out.

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“The devastation it’s going to cause for working people in the countryside is just heartbreaking. It really, really is heartbreaking.”

Meanwhile, Ms Aldworth’s grandfather, Glyn Pearman, echoed similar fury and concern for rural communities across Britain, blasting Labour for wreaking havoc on people’s livelihoods.

“It’s the lifeblood of the countryside. Hunting, farming, two most important things,” he told Will.

He continued: “It would just be devastation. It affects so many people for absolutely no good reason. We’ve been adapted to this trail hunting.

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“We’re going well. We got used to it now. And it would be just savage. It’d be savage if the Government were to take this course.”

Labour ministers unveiled their animal welfare strategy shortly before Christmas, which included proposals to prohibit trail hunting amid concerns the practice serves as a cover for illegal foxhunting.

The Countryside Alliance has claimed the Government is “alienating rural people” citing research conducted by ORB International which found that 65 per cent of voters believe Labour unfairly overlooks rural communities.

The survey, which questioned 2,083 British adults online between December 12 and 14, revealed that just 36 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that the Government cares about countryside residents.

The Countryside Alliance’s chief executive Tim Bonner slammed Labour over its “warped priorities”.

“When Keir Starmer said that he ‘wanted a new relationship with the countryside’ we all assumed he meant a better one, but in 18 months his Government has alienated rural people and created the clear impression that it does not care about the countryside,” he said.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said: “This government is committed to banning trail hunting, which is too often used as a cover for illegal fox hunting, and has strong public support across the country.

“This builds on previous animal welfare reforms delivered by this Government, including giving police greater powers to prevent dog attacks on livestock, protecting farmers and animals alike.

“The Batters Review highlighted the need for greater collaboration between industry, farmers and government – and that is exactly what we will do.

“We have increased the individual inheritance tax threshold from £1million to £2.5million, meaning couples with estates of up to £5million will pay no inheritance tax.”