Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed his backing for a ban on trail hunting, telling the Labour Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) that he wants the government's animal welfare strategy delivered in full.
In a statement published on the LAWS website, Burnham said: "Labour has a proud record on animal welfare. From banning fur farming and fox hunting to the Animal Welfare Act, I am proud to have been part of a brave and reforming government. I want to lead a government that matches that ambition. Animal welfare is a moral cause." He added: "That's why I fully support the animal welfare strategy and want to see it implemented, including the ban on trail hunting."
What the Ban Would Cover
Trail hunting was introduced as a legal activity following the Hunting Act 2004, which banned the hunting of foxes and other wild mammals with dogs. Under trail hunting, hounds are meant to follow an artificial scent rather than a live animal. Campaigners and a number of Labour MPs have long argued that trail hunting is routinely used as cover for illegal fox hunting, pointing to repeated cases of hunts being caught killing foxes despite operating under the trail hunting exemption.
A ban on trail hunting was a Labour manifesto commitment and formed part of the government's wider Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025 under the previous administration. That strategy also included commitments on ending cages for laying hens, improving lamb welfare, and further protections for farmed and wild animals.
Why the Commitment Matters Now
Burnham's confirmation carries particular weight given the criticism the government previously faced for moving too slowly on animal welfare pledges. Campaign group Protect the Wild, in an open letter signed by figures including Dame Judi Dench and Sir Mark Rylance, criticised the government for failing to include the trail hunting ban in the King's Speech, warning that hunting seasons would continue unchecked in its absence. LAWS has similarly pushed for the strategy to be turned into actual legislation rather than remaining a statement of intent, urging supporters to write to their MPs pressing any Burnham government to reaffirm the strategy "at an early opportunity" and bring forward the necessary parliamentary time.
With Burnham now in Downing Street, his commitment shifts the question from whether he supports the ban to when his government will bring forward the legislation needed to deliver it, with the coming hunting season, which typically begins in earnest in October, likely to be seen as an early test of his government's follow-through.
Opposition From the Countryside
Any ban is likely to face resistance from hunting groups. The Countryside Alliance has previously argued it would be "perverse" for a Labour government to ban trail hunting after the same party historically legislated for it as an alternative to traditional hunting, while the British Hound Sports Association has said trail hunting remains lawful and supports rural livelihoods and small businesses. Around 170 hunt packs currently operate in England and Wales, some of which have said they may consider converting to genuine "drag" hunting, in which no live scent or animal is involved, if a ban on trail hunting is confirmed.