3 JULY 2004, Page 26

Animal rights ignored

From Edward Collier Sir: Peter Oborne (Politics, 26 June) reckons that 'the Bill [banning hunting] raises massive human rights issues concerning compensation'. As my son might say, with rising inflection, 'Hello?' What infringement of human rights requiring compensation can possibly arise from banning hunting? The loss of jobs? Tell that to the mineworkers under Thatcher, and the small shopkeepers going to the wall right now as a direct result of government legislation. The right to dress up and ride to hounds in pursuit of quarry? Hardly — just substitute it with drag hunting.

Edward Collier

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire