IN a recent Review Gordon Elsmore asks what animal rights groups would say if fox hunting were to be restored in areas which had sufficient support. He should have upheld democracy and supported the restoration of fox hunting if the majority wanted it, whatever animal rights groups might say.

Fox hunting is one of the centuries-old traditions of this country which is precisely why the left wing wanted it stopped; not because of cruelty to animals; and in any case there wasn't any.

To destroy a nation you first attack the traditions of that nation. The political left win, except Hitler's Nazi Party, are hooked on internationalism. They do not care about individual nations nor any traditions of those nations. The Labour Party and the Nazi Party are and were both left wing, the difference between them being one lot are international socialists while the other lot were national socialists. If UKIP desire more support, I suggest they organise a campaign to restore fox hunting because it is good to maintain traditions, it is good and healthy to indulge in sporting activities, and it is good to give the left wing a bloody nose every time they interfere with the politics of our country.

Far from indulging in cruelty to animals, the hunt always kept their horses and hounds in good condition; and they provided employment to people who looked after the animals and maintained the equipment. They also protected the interests of farmers whose livelihoods depended on the rearing of chickens, ducks, geese, lambs, calves and anything else the fox took a liking to.

The hunt seldom actually caught a fox because it was too fast. They kept it on the move. Any fox caught was more likely to be elderly or infirm.

Much ado was created by the animal rights groups over the hounds tearing the fox to pieces. The fox was already dead, the hounds had seen to that. They knew by instinct the necessity to kill it first because when cornered the fox will fight back. The idea of the terrified fox running for its life with the hounds in hot pursuit should be changed for the more accurate picture of the fox enjoying healthy exercise knowing the hounds won't catch it. I hope the hunt saboteur who actually managed to pick up a fox to protect it from the hounds had his opinions slammed into reverse when it bit him. No doubt the fox thought he was about to chuck it at them.

At the General Election of 2005 UKIP could not decide whether to support or condemn fox hunting because they could not work out which was more likely to get them votes. or could any other party. Either way, dithering costs votes. So come on UKIP, as you are absolutely right on everything else, it is time to prove Gordon Elsmore wrong and start campaigning for the maintenance, and where necessary, the restorations of the traditions of our country

– Anthony Reeve,?Oak Way, Littledean.