Fox hunt fans have been campaigning “hard” for Boris Johnson to win Thursday’s general election, we can reveal.
Bloodsports enthusiasts are fighting to thwart Jeremy Corbyn’s plan to toughen up anti-hunting laws.
They plan a “dawn raid” on the morning of the ballot to urge hunting fans to support the Tories.
The revelations come in an email from the Pytchley with Woodland Hunt to its supporters.
(Image: PA)
The hunt is based where “Northamptonshire meets Leicestershire” – where a string of key marginal seats could hold the key to election victory.
Hunt bosses rallied loyal supporters and urged them to campaign for the Tories to win this week.
“Hunts from around the country are campaigning hard for the Conservative Party. The Pytchley with Woodland need to do our bit as well,” says an email which was leaked to animal welfare activists.
“The Pytchley with Woodland Hunt have been selected to carry out a ‘Dawn Raid’ on Poll Day (Thursday 12th December).
“There are 10,000 leaflets which need delivering between 5am – 9am on the morning to ensure we have a piece of literature in front of all our supporters at the start of Poll Day.”
(Image: PA)
Hunting has been banned in England and Wales since February 2005.
But the Conservatives have made several attempts to axe the ban -outraging animal rights activists.
The Prime Minister moved last month to shut down fears the party was poised to bring back hunting.
The party manifesto says: “We will make no changes to the Hunting Act.”
The U-turn came two-and-a-half years after Theresa May’s vocal backing for hunting was blamed for helping derail her 2017 general election campaign.
(Image: Andy Commins/Daily Mirror)
The Mirror revealed then how fox hunt masters were secretly “mobilising” support for Mrs May, claiming that poll was “the chance we have been waiting for” to scrap the ban.
A pro-hunting group called Vote OK was co-ordinating efforts to change the law then.
An email last month from the joint masters of the Pytchley with Woodland reveals Vote OK is again helping the Tory battle.
It says: “In the coming General Election on December 12th, we are facing the most serious threat to country sports for 20 years.
(Image: Getty Images)
“ Labour ’s policies threaten both the future of hunting and now shooting for the first time.
“Labour’s Animal Welfare policy commits to bringing forward further legislation which would make trail hunting impossible.
“It is imperative that all members, supporters and friends of the Pytchley with Woodland Hunt and everyone who believes in hunting in our area give their maximum support through Vote OK by delivering letters and leaflets, stuffing envelopes and any other way possible.”
(Image: AFP)
Animal welfare campaigner Jay Tiernan, who was passed the email, told the Mirror: “We are deeply concerned that swing voters in marginal seats are now being targeted, perhaps believing that the Tory commitment not to overturn the hunting ban is welcome news.
“Voters across the country can now expect to be bombarded with Tory propaganda as fox hunters go door to door in marginal seats.
“We would urge anyone who comes across a Tory leaf-letter to ask them why fox hunters are distributing for them.”
Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman said: “The choice at this election is clear – Boris Johnson ’s Conservatives who threaten the very existence of the fox hunting ban or Labour who are promising to strengthen it.
“Labour’s animal welfare manifesto sets out world-leading plans to bring animal welfare policy into the 21st Century.”
