MP seeks your views on fox hunting ban proposal
The way we treat animals is a measure of how civilised our society is.
So it's no surprise that new Conservative pledges to reverse Labour's popular fox hunting ban are triggering powerful feelings right across the West Country.
Many Chronicle readers will recall how, soon after first becoming North East Somerset's MP in 1997, I ran a major constituent survey about hunting.
The findings showed local people – both in our rural areas and our towns – overwhelmingly opposed hunting. So I worked hard to play my part in getting the cruelty of fox hunting banned.
It was never going to be easy. You may recall TV and newspaper pictures of physical attacks on me by a pro-hunt mob. Indeed, one of my female staff was beaten up. Stones were thrown at other staff. Dead animals have been disrespectfully disfigured and dumped at my offices.
These actions reveal much about the kind of people who support hunting, as does the disturbing ritual of smearing a fox's blood on a child's head at their first kill.
Now with hunting firmly back on the agenda, I'm again seeking local people's views to ensure I stay in close touch with local opinion.
Please let me know what you think by emailing dan@dannorris.org.uk or writing to Dan Norris MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
DAN NORRIS MP
5 Comments
by Mike, Bath
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 7:50AM
“The anti-hunt brigade hate hunting, not because of the pain it may bring the fox, but because it brings pleasure to the participants and spectators. They are a sad bunch with chips on their shoulders. I suggest they get over to the back streets of Cairo or any other mid-eastern city if they wish to wave their little bits of cardboard in the defence of cruelly treated animals.”
by Bog Fox, Dorset
Tuesday, October 13 2009, 7:46AM
“Does our MP take us for fools. He has claerly already made up his mind. Hunting should not be an issue for us, Labour simply cannot propose anything good and so the best they can whine is "keep us, or the fox gets it". So what! I'm worried about the NHS, my children's schools and my job. Not a bloody rat with a bushy tail.
I am also far more interested in Mr Norris's expense claims, maybe he should tell us about how hes going to pay those back, I reckon 98% of his constituants would agree with that!”
by Rosemary, Bathford
Saturday, October 10 2009, 9:18AM
“I have to say that I too was amazed when I received Mr Norris's missive and felt much the same as Mr Price regarding the subject Mr Norris chose in order to get my Vote. Well he won't get it. Any MP of any party would have to try much harder than that!”
by Matthew Price, Tetbury
Saturday, October 10 2009, 8:07AM
“Sir, in response to Dan Norris MP's letter inviting readers views on hunting, it is pretty clear that Dan has already made his mind up with a very heavy bias evident in his letter. Having taken Dan up on his invitation to send him my opinion on hunting I receive an automated response teling me that Dan is not interested in my views if I do not reside in his constituency. This being despite Dan having sent several letters like this to local papers in the last couple of weeks inviting views on hunting and not making it clear that he only wants his own constituents views.
Hunting is an issue which is only of interest to a small number of opponents made up of animal rights activists and labour MP's who seem to be obsessed with the subject rather than the many issues which really matter to the electorate such as rapidly increasing unemployment, the failing economy, The NHS, Education, The War in Afganistan, the list is endless and Dan Norris puts hunting at the top of his list of priorities which tells you all you need to know about the man.
I wonder if Dan would support repeal of the hunting act if his post bag were to be filled with letters from constituents supporting repeal? I doubt it!”
by Sarah, Surrey
Thursday, October 08 2009, 8:35PM
“Dan, the things you complain about are routinely and regularly meted out to hunt supporters day in day out. I'm sorry they happened to you and yours, they shouldn't, but it was probably because the perpetrators got the ideas from what had been done over the years to them and theirs. Think yourself lucky. They put a bomb under my car because I dared to give evidence to the police against hunt saboteurs. No, it wasn't a fake...
If you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas - explain to your staff it's your fault for siding with the animalfascists.”