Countryside Alliance - love the countryside

In addition the manifesto pledges to "tighten the law on air guns" and says that the Animal Welfare Bill, which will regulate the rearing of game birds, will be introduced as soon as possible in the new Parliament.

Countryside Alliance Chief Executive, Simon Hart, said: "The Labour Party is quite right to record the revolutionary reforms to agricultural subsidy, and we welcome commitments on affordable housing, local sourcing of food for institutions and non-food crops.

"However, this manifesto will do nothing to dispel concern in the countryside that the sort of prejudiced, discriminatory legislation that was imposed on rural people in the last parliament could be repeated in the next.

"Many people considered that Labour's commitments not to restrict other country sports while legislating against hunting was a cynical ploy. The decision to drop those commitments after the passing of the Hunting Act confirms those fears".

Ends...

*Notes to Editor

Labour Party Manifesto 2001: "We will then enable Parliament to reach a conclusion on this issue (hunting). If the issue continues to be blocked we will look at how the disagreement can be resolved. We have no intention whatsoever of placing restrictions on the sports of angling and shooting"