Totnes Hustings
Depressing as it is to have to sit next to the BNP for two hours, I accept their right to be there and continue to feel that our best answer is to soundly reject their racist policies through the ballot box. The BNP should lose their deposit in Totnes.
On the issue of hunting with hounds, I have always said that I will use this as a way of trying to re-engage voters with open democracy if I am elected as an MP. People tell me that they want politicians who listen but I realise that they also want to know my personal view. I have avoided this until now for the single reason that I wanted to avoid accusations of bias in any result. The trouble is that this is misrepresented as fence sitting so, to clarify the situation, I do not hunt and would not wish to see a return to hunting with hounds. I would like to see our countryside traditions retained through trail hunting and know many people who now feel comfortable to follow a drag hunt who would not have felt able to support hunting live animals.
I accept that this is an emotive issue and will still canvass opinion if elected and pledge to represent the majority view. For the record, when asked so far, the majority of people I have polled do not support a return to hunting with hounds. Please feel free to send me your views.
