Letter: Puritans in pursuit of fox-hunters
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: To Polly Toynbee's excellent article on fox-hunting only two points need to be added:
1. There are rural communities for which hunting, as well as supplying an important source of revenue and employment (custom in hotels, pubs, B&B, the breeding and care of horses and hounds, jobs for hunt staff), also performs a valuable social function, providing free entertainment to huge numbers of foot followers as well as sport for the riders. Such communities would suffer both economically and socially from a ban and, no doubt, be left feeling alienated by the urban-dominated concerns of current MPs.
2. The death of the hunted fox may be violent but the diseased, mangy, lingering demise of those that survive to perish from natural causes is infinitely worse.
FERNANDA PIRIE
London SW8
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments