OUR CAMPAIGN WINS SUPPORT AT LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE

The Campaign to Strengthen the Hunting Act attracted a lot of attention during the Labour Party Conference (22nd - 25th September 2014). Protect Our Wild Animals (POWA) had a stall at the Conference, and the CSHA campaign video was played on a loop for all to see. On watching the film, the reaction of delegates, MPs and Shadow Ministers was one of shock and disgust. Several senior Labour party figures were pleased to be photographed at our stall (see pictures below), including Ed Balls (Shadow Chancellor) and Yvette Cooper (Shadow Home Secretary), both of whom expressed support for our aims.

A number of delegates from the Police also expressed shock and outrage at the contents of our film.

The influence of our campaign is spreading far and wide, and is rapidly gaining momentum.

Please help by writing to Shadow Environment Minister to Jim McMahon  Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ask Labour to commit to strengthening the Hunting Act.

Great that Labour campaign to keep the Hunting Act, but that's not enough. Stephen Wooler, in his recent report to the RSPCA, said the law is extensively flouted by Hunts. That's largely because they can get away with it due to deficiencies and loopholes in the Hunting Act itself. Even when they are [rarely] convicted, sanctions are paltry and they don't even get a criminal record. Please support POWA's http://campaigntostrengthenthehuntingact.com/ but also ask Rachael Maskell to commit Labour to strengthening the Act. Message her [very politely, please, she's one of the good guys] at rachael.maskell.mp@parliament.uk  Stephen Wooler [a very senior lawyer, formerly Chief Inspector of the CPS] also urged the RSPCA to campaign for the Society to press for the Act to be amended to make enforcement easier.

So please also lobby the RSPCA to do that http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus
Oh and please sign our petition at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/campaign-to-strengthen-the-hunting-act

Ed Balls MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary.

Caroline Flint MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Christine Harris - POWA Director and Stephen Reed MP, Shadow Minister, Home Affairs.

Dennis Skinner MP - The Beast of Bolsover

Christine Harris - POWA Director talking to Ed Balls MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Kelvin Hopkins MP with POWA Director Christine Harris.

Pictured right,Maria Eagle MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Chris Williamson M.P.

Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon

Vernon Coaker MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.