Revealed: fox hunts gathering in numbers during lockdown
Fox hunts appear to be operating as normal during COVID restrictions, it has emerged.
Scottish Greens environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has raised the issue after The League Against Cruel Sports reported that Scottish hunts appear to be going out as usual three times a week, with large gatherings of people reported.
Hunts appear to be exploiting two exceptions which allow six people to gather for ‘pest control’ and 30 to gather for ‘equestrian events’.
This is happening while citizens are confined to a two household and six-person limit.
At the Scottish Parliament’s COVID committee, Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said: “There are no super exemptions” and asked for more details.
Speaking afterwards, Mark Ruskell said: “Most people think fox hunting is banned in Scotland, yet here we have them apparently continuing as normal, even when most people are complying with strict public health measures which restrict our activities.
“As usual, the assumption is that it is one rule for them and another for the rest of us. A group of people can’t gather to kick a football around the park, yet they can go out in large numbers and kill wildlife for sport? That is ridiculous."