Legalising fox-hunting: A vote winner for the Tories or a vote loser?
Lifting the ban on fox-hunting – how supporters of the main parties divide pic.twitter.com/YTq1r57Eff
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 9, 2015
YouGov finds that the Right-Left divide over fox-hunting continues
With the Tories reported to planning legalise fox-hunting if they are returned with a majority YouGov has had a look at the issue and finds support for current ban,
But as the chart shows there’s a sharp right-left split on the issue with Tory voters opposing the ban the LAB ones supporting it.
In the days of Tony Blair the then PM would regularly put fox-hunting on the agenda whenever he was coming under pressure from the left. For many in the red-team this was a symbolic issue and generally there was strong backing within the party.
At the 2005 general election those opposed to any controls organised extensive activity including providing support for those MPs who back their position.
There’s always been something of an urban-rural divide with those in the former being more supportive of bans. A problem for those wanting the ban lifted is that many more of the key marginals are in urban areas than rural ones.
Comparison with opinion in 2004
YouGov finds that there's still strongish support for the ban on hunting with hounds
pic.twitter.com/gVB34vVxIH
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 9, 2015