Labour calls on Boris Johnson to confirm if he still ‘loves’ fox hunting

Labour is calling on Boris Johnson to confirm if he
still “loves” fox hunting after it emerged he wrote one year after the
Act banning hunting was passed by Parliament, that he wanted it to go on
“for ever”.

It comes a day after his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt refused four times to say if he thought the bloodsport was cruel.

One year after Labour banned hunting, Johnson described how he
“loved” his day with a hunt, saying he wanted hunting to go on “for
ever” and that “if the hounds pick up a fox, so be it”. He has also
voted in favour of hunting.

Sue Hayman MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, said:

“It is a simple question: does Boris Johnson still support fox
hunting, yes or no? The fact that he is refusing to answer shows how far
he will go to avoid scrutiny.

“There is overwhelming support in both rural and urban areas for
keeping the ban on fox hunting that Labour was proud to bring in and
will strengthen in government.”