Jude Robinson, Labour's Prospective parliamentary candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle pledged “no return to cruelty” as she backed an IFAW in Action campaign to protect the ban on the cruel sport of hunting with dogs.

Five years after the Hunting Act came into force in England and Wales, IFAW in Action, a part of the global International Fund for Animal Welfare movement, has published a new report ‘No Return to Cruelty’, and released a three-minute compilation of video footage showing examples of hunting cruelty before the ban.

The new report and footage were sent to MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates, urging them to remember the horrific cruelty inflicted on foxes, deer, hares and mink before the introduction of the Hunting Act and to work to protect the ban.

Jude said: “Having lived in a rural spot in Cornwall, I know that the strength of feeling against hunting is as strong in villages as it is in towns. The Hunting Act was brought in because the public demanded it and I am proud to have worked for it. 

"I believe that I am the only main party candidate to oppose a repeal of the laws on hunting and there is a clear choice for voters.  

"I have read IFAW in Action’s report and watched the horrific footage of pre-ban hunt cruelty. Members of the public who are at all unsure should do the same. We should all work together to end cruelty to animals.”

Conservative Party leader David Cameron has pledged to allow MPs a free vote on whether to repeal the Act if he becomes Prime Minister. This is despite the fact that a return to hunting would be completely out of step with the views of the majority of the British public, including his own party.

Polling by Ipsos MORI* in September 2009 found strong cross-party support for maintaining the ban, including almost twice as many intending Conservative supporters backing the Act as those that want it repealed (62% vs 33%). Overall, 75% of the British public do not want fox hunting to be made legal again.

Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW in Action, said: “As a nation of animal lovers, the majority of the British public have long opposed animal cruelty and do not want the archaic practice of hunting with dogs to return to our countryside. We urge everyone to visit our website and remember why this vital ban was introduced.”

To read the No Return to Cruelty report and view the footage visit www.ifaw.org/noreturntocruelty where you can also email your other local parliamentary candidates and ask where they stand on the issue.

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Jude Robinson 07910 847309

www.juderobinson.org.uk

For electronic versions of the report, broadcast-quality footage or to arrange interviews please contact Clare Sterling at IFAW on 020 7587 6708, mobile 07917 507717 or email csterling@ifaw.org

Or to view the report and footage visit www.ifaw.org/noreturntocruelty

About IFAW in Action and the International Fund for Animal Welfare – IFAW in Action is an independent part of the International Fund for Animal Welfare family (IFAW), which is one of the world’s leading animal welfare organisations. IFAW has representation in 16 countries and carries out its animal welfare work in more than 40. IFAW works from its global headquarters in the United States and focuses its campaigns on improving the welfare of wild and domestic animals by reducing the commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats and assisting animals in distress. IFAW works both on the ground and in the halls of government to safeguard wild and domestic animals and seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. Visit www.ifaw.org

* Ipsos MORI interviewed a nationally representative quota sample of 2,003 adults in GB aged 15+. Interviews were carried out face-to-face, in home, using CAPI (Computer Aided Personal Interviewing Laptops), as part of the Ipsos MORI Omnibus (Capibus). The sample design ensures that the Omnibus accurately reflects the GB population in terms of region and area types as well as respondent demographics. The survey data were weighted to the known population of this audience. Fieldwork was conducted between 4-10 September 2009. Results are based on all respondents unless otherwise stated. Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to multiple responses, computer rounding or the exclusion of don’t knows/not stated.

For further details, please contact Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL or John Leaman at Ipsos MORI on 020 7347 3000 or see:

www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2479

No Return to Cruelty is promoted by IFAW in Action (company registration number 1556892), registered office 87-90 Albert Embankment, London , SE1 7UD