BTW, I'm still awaiting a cogent answer apropos the 'great mass of the people' having spoken and the validity of their perceived views. Any takers?

Gervase as it was you who both introduced and questioned the validity and lack of knowledge of the 'great mass of the people'. You have already answered your own question. If you really think that inflicting cruelty upon animals for sporting pleasure is a vote winner in the UK - please go ahead on this ticket....If you are proved right - we can look forward to seeing all sorts of fun things being re-introduced. Like public executions - and throwing people to the lions.

When can we arrange for you and your knowledgable friends to be chased, terrified, exhausted and finally attacked by baying hounds, for our enjoyment? After this experience in the field - we will all be very eager the hear if these experts judge this experience to be cruel or not - assuming of course that the hounds do not rip them apart and finally kill them.

For even if foxes we able to speak and could explain their field experience to us - their bloody death may prevent them from doing this.