Consultation on Trail Hunting

Over recent weeks, I have heard from hundreds of constituents about the Government’s consultation on proposals to prohibit trail hunting in England and Wales. As the MP for a deeply rural constituency, I know this is an issue that people feel strongly about on all sides of the debate.

Some residents have written to me because they believe trail hunting should be banned entirely. Others have contacted me with deep concerns about what further restrictions could mean for the countryside, rural jobs, local traditions, land management, and the wider rural economy.

I understand both viewpoints.

What has come through very clearly is that many people in our rural communities feel increasingly concerned that decisions affecting the countryside are being made without properly understanding the realities of rural life. For many constituents, this debate goes far beyond hunting itself. It is about protecting a way of life, supporting rural employment, and ensuring that countryside communities are not gradually hollowed out by policies designed far away from the places they affect.

A significant number of residents have told me they fear an outright ban on trail hunting could have serious unintended consequences for the countryside and further deepen the divide between rural and urban Britain. Whether people agree with that position or not, those concerns are sincerely and strongly held, and they deserve to be listened to respectfully rather than dismissed.

At the same time, it is equally important that the law is respected and properly enforced. Hunting wild mammals with dogs has been illegal for two decades, and where there is evidence that laws are being broken, that must be taken seriously and acted upon.

I believe confidence in the existing law and robust enforcement are essential. People should be able to trust that rules are clear, fair, and consistently upheld.

As a Liberal Democrat, I believe good policymaking comes from listening carefully, especially on issues where opinions are deeply held and communities are divided. That means engaging respectfully with those calling for further restrictions, while also recognising the genuine concerns being raised by many people across our countryside communities.

The Government consultation is an opportunity for residents to make their voices heard, and I would encourage anyone with views on this issue to respond before it closes on the 18^th of June.

Whatever side of the debate people fall on, rural voices must be part of the conversation.