Outfoxing the ban
Sir: Your editorial (‘Fox news’, 4 September) rightly welcomes Tony Blair’s admission that the Hunting Act was ‘a fatal mistake’ as does everyone who hunts, although there is a certain frustration that he missed the clear opportunity to adopt compromise proposals that were available to him right up to the end of the parliamentary process.
As far as the current government is concerned, I am not certain that you are being entirely fair. A free vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act followed by a government bill is not just a Conservative party commitment, it is now part of the coalition programme. Even those, like myself, who are ardent supporters of repeal could not expect this issue to be at the top of the new government’s agenda. We do, however, expect that commitment to be delivered during this parliament. When it is, all MPs of all parties need to give the issue proper consideration, as Tony Blair eventually did, rather than engaging once again in tribal politics.
If they take time to consider the proposals for the regulation of post-repeal hunting and how the Hunting Act fails in terms of civil liberties, animal welfare and simple common sense, then I am confident that the vote will be won.
Kate Hoey MP
Chair, Countryside Alliance
Sir: I too was surprised by Tony Blair’s reappraisal of the fox-hunting ban. However, I would take issue with your exhortation to David Cameron to attempt to repeal it. The fact is that the legislation introducing the ban was so masterfully badly (well?) drawn up that it had the effect of appeasing the sandalistas while allowing the status quo ante to remain in place for those who hunt — pragmatically the best of all possible worlds. To rehash the arguments again will only be counterproductive scab picking and lead who knows where. Cameron should leave this particular dog slumbering in perpetuity.
Nick Paterson-Morgan
London SW4
Gypsy lifestyle
Sir: I was horrified to see my son’s name mentioned by Clover Stroud in such an unfavourable and prejudicial light (‘Jealous of the Gypsies’, 4 September). Do your journalists print anything they hear without bothering to research its authenticity? To begin with we are not landowners and the numerous children running amok in our garden, doing wilful damage and stealing, were definitely not looking for ladybirds. My son, Christopher Bayfield, was in fact extremely forbearing with these children for the first few days. He calmed me down several times, saying that, after all, they are just children. But the trespass and damage escalated throughout the week, culminating in my husband catching them at the oil tank. We finally called the police. We did not go ahead with a formal complaint but just hoped the police presence would keep the children away. They returned very shortly after the police left and, having uprooted the posts and fencing for easier access, were soon running riot again in the garden. They ignored our requests for them to leave and in desperation I asked my son if he could do something about them. He fired a shotgun into the air to alert the travellers that this was not a good area for their children. The travellers, who know the law better than we do, immediately rang the police. Five armed officers arrived immediately, interviewed us all in separate rooms, and arrested my son. We are awaiting the outcome.
The romantic Clover Stroud has obviously never lived in the country and if she really wants to know why the travellers are so unpopular with country folk, she should come to our village and interview some of the people who have experienced their ‘lifestyle’. Dream on Clover, but this is not the sort of journalism I would have expected to read in The Spectator.
Jo Bayfield
By email
Tragedy of youth
Sir: James Delingpole should be commended for teaching his children that work isn’t everything. The problem is the generally accepted adage, that ‘youth is wasted on the young’. I am 23. I, like Mr Delingpole, went to Oxford. I, too, am fully convinced that work alone cannot make you happy. Yet the pressure to succeed combined with the far more potent fear of failure, frequently causes me (and many others I know) to forget these truisms. If regret is the tragedy of middle age, then compulsive pressure is the tragedy of youth.
Timothy Pleydell-Bouverie
London SW1
Rod of correction
Sir: If Rod Liddle started a ‘Beatify Mary Bale’ site he might get more support. Cat owners seem to be the only members of society who are not responsible for their animals. If a dog fouls the pavement or a stray cow causes a road accident, then the owner is responsible, whereas cat owners think it’s their right to let their animals out every night to crap in other people’s gardens and kill their neighbour’s robin. There is a simple remedy — cat owners should be required by law to keep their pets under control. One of our neighbours walks her cat on a lead; why can’t the rest?
George Tedbury
Calne, Wiltshire
Sir: Especially enjoyed Rod Liddle’s article. I always find him a good read and this time he has excelled himself, saying everything I think or realise I ought to think. Well done Rod.
Jeremy Smith
By email
Exit line
Sir: Your cartoon on page 15 (28 August) quite took my breath away. A bemused Iraqi officer surveys the departing US Army. The caption: ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going.’ This in a British magazine? That would be the Brits wot gave us the Battling Bastards of Basra? Remarkable.
George Peery
Lt. Col., US Army (Ret), North Carolina
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