Countryside Alliance - love the countryside

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, and anti-hunting Lib Dem MPs, have been attacked for their support for a ban on all hunting by rural campaigners at the party's conference in Brighton.

Leaflets distributed by protestors and banners carried to the conference on trailers posed a simple question - A Hunting Ban. Liberal? Democratic? The demonstrators were joined by supportive Lib Dem MPs Lembit Opik and Roger Williams.

Simon Hart, Chief Executive Designate, said: "The Lib Dems have an opportunity to show they can make a positive difference to rural Britain - and many of their policies have been welcomed by rural communities. But the party's image in the countryside and their electoral success will always be limited because of the support of their leader, and many of their MPs, for the criminalisation of hunting.

"Why aren't they willing to even discuss a regulatory solution which would do more good for animal welfare than a ban, as well as respecting civil liberties?

"What is 'Liberal' about banning things when there is no rational case for doing so? And what is 'Democratic' about a measure that would unjustly criminalise a minority's way of life when fewer than half our MPs, half our parliamentarians and half the electorate even support a ban?*"

Ends...

Date: Wednesday 24th September 2003
Release: Immediate

For more information contact the Press Office on 020 7840 9220

*Notes to the Editor

48% of MPs voted for a ban on hunting (Commons 3rd Reading Hunting Bill
7/03)

45% of Parliamentarians supported a ban on hunting (Hunting 'options' Bill
2002)

36% of the public support a ban on hunting (NOP 12/2002)