Stuart Anderson MP Renews Opposition to Trail Hunting Ban
Stuart Anderson MP is using residents across South Shropshire to respond to the government's consultation on trail hunting before it closes on 18th June 2026.
- The government's official consultation on trail hunting closes on 18th June 2026.
- Stuart's survey received 1,899 responses - with 63% opposing ban on trail hunting.
- Stuart presented the survey results during a debate on rural communities in January.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"The proposed ban on trail hunting will have a big impact on rural communities like South Shropshire. Almost 2,000 residents responded to my survey in January, with nearly two-thirds voting against further restrictions on trail hunting. It is a rural way of life that gives £78 million to £100 million back to the rural economy through farriers, vets, feed merchants, and local businesses. The government has not made a sufficient case for a ban. From 2004 to 2023, there were 44 convictions involving 250,000 organised hunt days. That is one conviction for every 5,680 hunt days. If anyone breaks the law, they should be prosecuted. But the statistics do not show widespread criminality. I urge everyone in South Shropshire to respond to the government's consultation before 18th June 2026."
The proposed ban was announced as part of the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy on 22nd December 2025, after Parliament had risen for Christmas recess on 18th December 2025. Stuart said that this denied Parliament the opportunity for immediate scrutiny and denied rural communities a proper debate at the time.
In January 2026, Stuart ran his own survey of South Shropshire residents on the proposal. 1,899 residents responded, with 63% of South voting against a ban. Stuart presented the results in the House of Commons on 7th January 2026 as part of an Opposition Day Debate on support for rural communities. At the time, Stuart described the proposed ban as the latest episode in an ongoing series of assaults on rural communities like South Shropshire. This includes the Family Farm Tax, which the Conservatives have pledged to repeal. More than six thousand agricultural businesses have closed since the tax was announced in October 2024.
Stuart has said that tail hunting is part of the local economy and way of life in rural areas like South Shropshire. It generates an estimated £78 million to £100 million for the economy and provides work for farriers, vets, feed merchants, and other rural businesses. Stuart has said that residents are also concerned about the practical impact of a ban. This includes who would be responsible for fallen stock disposal costs, which would fall directly on farmers, and the loss of income for rural service providers who depend on the hunting season.
On enforcement, Stuart said that the data does not support claims of widespread criminality. From 2004 to 2023, there were 44 convictions involving trail hunting across 250,000 hunt days. That equates to one conviction for every 5,680 trail hunting days. If there was one hunt day, it would take 15 years to reach one conviction.
