Stuart Anderson MP has launched a survey to inform his response to the government's plan to ban trail hunting in England and Wales.
The plan has been announced as part of the new animal welfare strategy, which was published on 22nd December 2025.
Defending the plans, Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said:
"In our manifesto we said we would ban trail hunting, and that's exactly what we'll do. There are concerns that trail hunting is being used a smokescreen for the hunting of wild animals, and that's not acceptable. We are working out the best approach to take the ban forward and will run a consultation to seek views in the new year."
However, Stuart has said that the plan is “yet another attack” on the countryside, after a raft of farming support schemes that were created by the last government were closed down.
Research from the Countryside Alliance has consistently shown that the public rates hunting below nearly every other current issue in terms of political priorities.
Now, a new poll has revealed that more than two thirds of voters think that the Labour government unfairly neglects those living in the countryside (65%) and doesn’t care about those that live there (64%).
In the poll of more than 2,000 people conducted by ORB for the Countryside Alliance, trail hunting was not mentioned once when asked what the government should be prioritising.
Stuart has added that the legislation would be a "monumental waste" of parliamentary time. The last time Labour was in government, 700 hours were used banning traditional hunting.
Stuart added that a ban would cause "irreparable" damage to the rural economy, as the sport supports a range of livelihoods, like pubs, vets, saddlers, feed merchants, farmers, and the wider horse industry.
Recently, Stuart visited the kennels at Ludlow Hunt. On 26th December 2025, Stuart attended the Boxing Day Hunt in Bishop's Castle.
At the NFU Annual Conference in 2023, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged that his party would seek a “new relationship with the countryside and farming communities… based on respect, on genuine partnership.”
In that same speech, the Prime Minister also promised that his government would be one “that listens, that heeds early warnings…”
However, Stuart has said his party’s plans contradict this pledge. He said that the proposed ban is the latest episode in an ongoing series of assaults on rural communities like South Shropshire.
Stuart has accused the government of an ongoing case of rural vandalism that includes its Family Farm and Business Tax and the closure of farming support schemes created by the last government.
He added that the Hunting Act 2004 already makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs except where it is carried out in accordance with specific and limited exemptions.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"The government’s plan to ban trail hunt is yet more proof that the government does not understand rural communities like South Shropshire. For many of us, trail hunting is an important tradition which can be enjoyed in full compliance with the law and without the deliberate involvement of live prey. The whole ecosystem sustains hundreds of years of traditions which is greatly appreciated in South Shropshire and supports rural livelihoods, like our publicans, vets, saddlers, feed merchants, farmers, and the wider horse industry. Any further restrictions would have serious consequences for both rural jobs and communities and raise real questions about the future of hound and beagle breeds. Rural traditions and livelihoods like this matter, and they deserve to be part of the national conversation. That is why am I encouraging as many residents from South Shropshire as possible to respond to my survey and let me know their views on this important issue.”
Please note, this survey is for constituents only. If you are not a constituent, your entry will not be recorded.
