Jerry – no to fox hunting, yes to higher animal welfare rules

Jerry Roodhouse, the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate for Rugby & Bulkington, is opposed to bringing back fox hunting and believes we should have higher animal welfare rules.

Jerry has received hundreds of emails asking for his views on fox hunting, with more people contacting him than any other issue. The issue flared up last month when Theresa May said, "I've always been in favour of fox hunting." The 2017 Conservative manifesto says, "We will grant a free vote, on a government bill in government time, to give parliament the opportunity to decide the future of the Hunting Act."

The Hunting Act came into force in 2005 and bans the hunting of wild mammals, including foxes, with dogs. In Coalition Government, Liberal Democrats resisted Conservative attempts to relax the ban.

Liberal Democrats have consistently fought to improve animal health and welfare standards and will continue to do so.

The Lib Dems have committed to updating farm animal welfare codes and promote the responsible stewardship of antibiotic drugs and will also introduce stronger penalties for animal cruelty offences, increasing the maximum sentencing from six months to five years, and bring in a ban on caged hens.

Commenting, Jerry Roodhouse, said:

"I'm very concerned about plans from Theresa May and the Tories that if they win the General Election they will bring forward a vote in the House of Commons to bring back hunting with hounds. I believe fox hunting is wrong and there is no case to change the current legislation. The Liberal Democrats are committed to improving animal welfare rules and if elected as the MP for Rugby & Bulkington I would work to ensure that the ban remained in place and was strongly enforced."