The New Coalition reasserts British liberal tradition...

[BirminghamTory]

Whilst the current coalition may not content all with the compromises on many fields of policy. However, in the field of civil liberties, if they actually implement the deal, and the Queen's speech we have one reason to be proud of the current government, with a return to tradition British liberalism, and respect for civil liberties.

Liberty is brought back home…

[Midas]

Whilst the current coalition may not content all with the compromises on many fields of policy. However, in the field of civil liberties, if they actually implement the deal, and the Queen's speech we have one reason to be proud of the current government, with a return to tradition British liberalism, and respect for civil liberties.

Liberty is brought back home…

Hi BirminghamTory, and welcome to the Politics Forum!

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In reply to your comment above, a very short and simple answer - I quite agree! I look forward to reading more of your posts.

[Major Sinic]

Hi Birmingham Tory and welcome to the forum. It is a little top heavy with rational, balanced slightly right of centre types at the moment, probably because most of the left leaning fraternity are currently involved in exams at university, before they have to enter the real world.

[BirminghamTory]

Cheers Midas, I will read all that

And Major Sinic, I too am in the middle of exams, but procrastinating..... lol

[Rizla]

Hi Birmingham Tory and welcome to the forum. It is a little top heavy with rational, balanced slightly right of centre types at the moment, probably because most of the left leaning fraternity are currently involved in exams at university, before they have to enter the real world.

Thanks, I spat my coffee all over the screen when I read that.

It makes me wonder what excuse left leaning politicians have?

So today they announced they are going to stop these silly security checks ("the vetting and barring scheme for those who work with children and vulnerable adults"). Which means my wife won't have to go through one just because she attends her dance class's 'mother and daughter' evenings!!! To give you some idea, my wife i a foreign national, as are about a third of the women in the class. Exactly how much would it cost to run a background check on somebody from Spain or Sweden? How much do they pay translators?

So yes, every time I switch on a TV or radio it's good news at the moment and a victory for common sense. And all Labour seem to be able to do is complain about how the Tories are taking giant leaps backwards in dismantling the nanny state.

I don't suppose I'll ever be able to have a cigarette in a pub again, but I'm confident things are going to get better.

[Scooter]

It is nice to see a return of some of our Basic Freedoms.Perhaps the fox hunting ban can be repealed next.Fox populations are too high causing foxes to become a danger to people, particulary children.

Mother of twins attacked by fox describes 'living nightmare' | UK news | guardian.co.uk

[Major Sinic]

It is nice to see a return of some of our Basic Freedoms.Perhaps the fox hunting ban can be repealed next.Fox populations are too high causing foxes to become a danger to people, particulary children.

Mother of twins attacked by fox describes 'living nightmare' | UK news | guardian.co.uk

As you might imagine, from my avatar, I am an ardent country sportsman, enjoying immensely the pastimes of riding to hounds and shooting. I would be delighted to see the repeal of the badly constructed, unenforceable, and unjustified ban on hunting with hounds, introduced by the Labour government, surely the most illiberal and authoritarian government we have had since WWII.

Unfortunately I don't think we will see the Liberal Conservative Coalition bring about its repeal, certainly in this parliament. Partly through political ideology, but also because I think our new government has higher priorities to deal with, primarily the recovery of our country from the economic disaster left to us by Labour.

On the plus side, hunting continues much as before, more people now hunt than for fifty years, and because of the muddy and muddled construction of the anti-hunting bill, coupled with rural poice forces not sharing Labour's view of law enforcement priorities, there are virtually no prosecutions.

[uncon]

I also am rather concerned that there is a link being made between recent fox attacks and the ban...it doesn't bear up to scrutiny. Drunken people dressed up on horseback will not solve the urban fox problem that is caused primarily by waste.

it would be better to have more frequent bin collections in urban areas and a spot of education to tenants wouldn't go amiss as the fox only does what it does...and they are unwittingly encouraging the greatest opportunist in this country with the exception of Simon Cowell.

[Major Sinic]

I also am rather concerned that there is a link being made between recent fox attacks and the ban...it doesn't bear up to scrutiny. Drunken people dressed up on horseback will not solve the urban fox problem that is caused primarily by waste.

it would be better to have more frequent bin collections in urban areas and a spot of education to tenants wouldn't go amiss as the fox only does what it does...and they are unwittingly encouraging the greatest opportunist in this country with the exception of Simon Cowell.

As an enthusiastic hunt member I would agree with you. There is no link between the urban fox and the the ban on hunting with hounds. The rural community are rather fed up with urban councils catching urban foxes, and releasing them into rural areas where they are totally unable to survive, and either die a slow death by starvation, or if they are lucky with a killing shot from a farmer or keeper's gun or a quick death by the hunt. The best thing urban communities can do is use robust waste bins with a strong catch and stop feeding the bloody things cat and dog food. Wild animals tend to breed to the level where they can survive on the available food.

A plump hen or a plump baby are all the same to a hungry fox. It doesn't know that we get more upset by a plump baby providing dinner, rather than a plump hen. The difference is that urban foxes have far less fear of humans than rural foxes, simply because their experience is that humans are no real threat, whereas rural foxes' instincts assure them that humans are very much to be feared.

Finally the drunkenness tends to occur after the day's hunting. Not always I will confess, but usually! Honestly!

[soloman]

Cheers Midas, I will read all that

And Major Sinic, I too am in the middle of exams, but procrastinating..... lol

We look forward to more of your posts!

[DaveUK]

Hear Hear. The hunting ban was indeed a very badly thought out piece of legislation, almost as bad as the dangerous dogs act of 1991. My views at the time of all the media propaganda were somewhat extreme and unpopular. As far as I am concerned foxes are vermin, cause havoc to paultry farmers, and should be ruthlessly culled by any means. Although not a "hunter" myself, I've attended numerous hunts as my ex partner was an avid hunter and riding instructor. As far as I could see, the hunt only ever succeeded in catching and despatching week diseased foxes. The sensationalist nonsense that the media promulgated about packs of hounds ripping foxes to pieces was deliberately misleading. Its likely that this would occur once a fox is caught by hounds, but it would already be dead after the initial bite and shake from the hound that initially caught the fox. Seeing dogs dispatch rabbits, its obvious that death is caused in an instant.

Something I think is related to this issue is the role played by the RSPCA. It was largely the RSPCA that consistantly lobbied MP's and the media to whip up the ill informed campaign for the hunting ban along with organizations like LACS. Sadly though, the pro hunting lobby did a very bad job of presenting their case, and had few if any political allies.
I wonder how many people that donate to the RSPCA with good intention, have any idea how much money the RSPCA actually squander on lobbying MP's and the media, endless litigation etc? The RSPCA have become a very politically motivated organization that seek similar powers to the police.

[Major Sinic]

As far as I am concerned foxes are vermin, cause havoc to paultry farmers, and should be ruthlessly culled by any means.

Just a point of clarification! Do you mean poultry farmers or paltry farmers?