Wednesday 24 June 2015

Howlett Watch #1: Fox Hunting

Anti-hunt campaigners in Bath have written to new Conservative MP Ben Howlett concerning proposals to repeal the hunting ban. In response he sent out identical letters to all those who wrote to him, several of which have been passed to our team.


Dear XXXX

Thank you for contacting me about the Hunting Act 2004.

I appreciate the strong feelings that many people have on this issue and I share your concern for ensuring the welfare of all animals. Your views will therefore be incorporated into my consultation on this matter.

The Prime Minister has said that a majority Conservative Government will give Parliament the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, with a government bill in government time.

I have always made it clear that the current law is not working and therefore I would vote in favour of repealing the hunting act in a free vote. If the law is repealed, I will work with my colleagues from across the House to replace it with legislation which works better for all those concerned.

I do hope this clarifies my position on this matter.

Best wishes

Ben Howlett
Member of Parliament for Bath



We fail to grasp Mr Howlett's logic. Surely, while not perfect, the Hunting Act at present reduces the amount of fox hunting undertaken, and that by repealing it, therefore making fox hunting legal, more foxes would be killed in this barbaric fashion than at present. If Mr Howlett is truly concerned about the effectiveness of the current legislation, surely he should be voting to keep it, while working on more effective legislation to replace it.

We therefore call upon the people of Bath to question Mr Howlett further, and to organise protests if he sticks to this approach.

Suggested questions to Mr Howlett (the more people that send these to him the better - please send your responses to standingstonesblog@hotmail.co.uk and we'll publish them):

- Do you agree with the practice of hunting foxes with dogs?

- What, in your view, is problematic with the current legislation?


- If you are opposed to hunting foxes with dogs, why do you think that repealing the ban without immediately replacing it with more effective legislation is a good idea?

Mr Howlett's contact details are as follows:

Address: 96 Sydney Mews, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 4ED

Phone: 01225 338555

E-mail: ben@ben4bath.co.uk

It has also been brought to our attention that Mr Howlett likes the page "Tot AlHunt"on Facebook. These hunt supporters say on the subject of the badger cull:

'There is a need to cull badgers in the United Kingdom due to the fact they spread TB to cattle. This case has been made well elsewhere. Our position on the matter at Total Hunt is that it is also a legitimate sport to cull badgers. Badger digging is a popular British field sport which has unnecessarily been criminalised.'

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Protestival - A Protest Festival. This Saturday, Victoria Park

Protestival - a protest festival - will be happening in Victoria Park this Saturday, with acoustic music and radical politics.
Organisers describe the event as "A day long festival that brings together activism and music! We will create a beautiful hub of activism-spreading and good musical vibes in Victoria Park on Saturday 6th June (this weekend)."

"The aim is to bring together the people of Bath, to share knowledge, listen to music, network, and have fun!
Please bring some food, a few drinks, maybe a blanket, and everyone you know!!!"

"Families more than welcome!"

"We'll be having quite a few folk musicians down, a fair bit of spoken word (some people coming all the way from Brighton to be there, just sayin'), some poetry, and an inspirational speech or two. Not to mention some live art, juggling lessons, yoga, meditation (hugging and laughing), frisbee, and of course members of various activist groups from around the local area to mill about spreading the word of what they're doing, and how you can help. It's also been suggested that we do a clothes swap table there, too, so we can share and swap our clothes, as well as our knowledge!"

With the sun set to shine on Saturday and growing disillusionment with politics as usual and a government hell-bent on destroying everything British people have fought for over the the centuries, we're sure this will be a great event.

Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/313194788890221/

Groups attending in some capacity include Bath Students Against Fees and Cuts, Bath Against Cuts, Bristol A-Fed and Unite in the Community. Various local folk musicians and local groups will be playing acoustic music.

We'll post further details as they come in.