BREAKING NEWS: David Cameron The Fox Hunter Spotted In Photograph He Didn’t Want Anyone To See
The Prime Minister was just a year away from becoming Tory leader when he was captured on horseback riding out with the Heythrop Hunt from Chipping Norton
Hunt fan: David Cameron attends the 2004 Boxing Day hunt
This is the first picture of bloodsports fan David Cameron going fox hunting.
The Prime Minister was just a year away from becoming Tory leader when he was captured on horseback riding out with the Heythrop Hunt from Chipping Norton. Looking slightly nervous, the then backbench MP peered round as he perched aboard his mount, surrounded by other huntsmen and women on Boxing Day 2004.
The photograph was unearthed by ex-Tory donor Lord Ashcroft for his Call Me Dave biography of the PM. Mr Cameron gave up fox hunting when he became Conservative leader in 2005.
It comes as Conservative MP Simon Hart takes up his role as chairman of the pro-fox hunting Countryside Alliance. He will lead the pressure group which wants to scrap the 10-year-old hunting ban.
Mr Hart was previously its chief executive - and has been pocketing £20,000 a year from the body for working just six hours a week as its “outdoor education consultant”. He said: “The Alliance is a unique organisation made up of some fascinating and diverse members and I am delighted to be able to do my bit to help.”
The Prime Minister tried and failed to ease hunting restrictions within weeks of returning to No 10 as a reward for rich pals who campaigned for the Tories in the general election. But animal rights activists suggested the Tory chief was out of touch with his own party over hunting.
League Against Cruel Sports campaigns director Tom Quinn said: “As another hunt season draws near, we have to ask ourselves whether David Cameron is really speaking for his party on hunting.
“With two-thirds of Conservative supporters against fox hunting, MPs are increasingly open to the evidence against hunting and a growing number are coming out against it.
“It was thanks to the 40-plus anti-hunting Conservative MPs that attempts to weaken the Hunting Act this summer were defeated.”