THE advertisement article placed by the Countryside Alliance in the Times (September 5) would have us believe that the Alliance is not just a group of hunters trying to save their 'sport', but a genuine campaign against all injustices in rural areas.
Certainly the underfunding of public transport and other rural services is a real problem, particularly for the poor and other vulnerable groups.
However, cuts have been taking place to vital public services for over 20 years and they are the direct result of the policies of the Thatcher and Major governments — low taxation for the rich and low public spending — eagerly continued by New Labour.
But where was the Countryside Alliance during the dark years of Tory government? The truth is that the Countryside Alliance was created in 1997 by an amalgamation of the British Field Sports Society and two other pro-hunting groups to oppose the anticipated ban on the hunting with dogs under New Labour.
The world's most prestigious scientific journal, Nature, recently published the findings of research by the University of Bristol into the effect on the fox population of the one-year ban on hunting during the foot and mouth outbreak.
The break in hunting resulted in no increase whatsoever in the fox population, disproving once and for all that hunting has anything to do with pest control.
Having lost the scientific as well as the moral arguments, the Countryside Alliance is desperately trying to keep the cruel sport of hunting with dogs alive by attaching itself like a parasite to the genuine concerns and campaigns of rural people.
Martin Quinn
West Devon Green Party
Old Exeter Road
Tavistock