Downing Street has slapped down Nigel Farage after he called ministers ‘authoritarian control freaks’ over their plan to ban trail hunting in the Animal Welfare Strategy

Downing Street has slapped down Nigel Farage after he called ministers “authoritarian control freaks” over their plan to ban trail hunting.

Trail hunting sees a scent laid out for the hunt to follow rather than a real animal, and was introduced as a replacement for fox hunting, which was banned by Labour in 2004.

Campaigners have long warned foxes are still often torn to shreds by dogs during the hunts, while the national police lead on illegal hunting, Devon and Cornwall’s assistant Chief Constable, Matt Longman, has claimed trail hunting was often used as “a smokescreen” for illegal fox hunting.

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Labour has vowed to ban the cruel practice as part of its Animal Welfare Strategy, which was unveiled today. But the Tories and Reform UK have been kicking off over the move.

Mr Farage, who often joins Boxing Day hunts, called ministers “authoritarian control freaks” over the policy, while the Conservatives said the move “is yet another assault on the rural way of life”.

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Downing Street rejected the idea the Government was “control freaks”, with the PM’s spokesman saying: “I reject that completely. On the central point of the announcement, we are meeting our manifesto commitment and setting out how we’re doing that.”

Campaigners have hailed Labour’s landmark Animal Welfare Strategy – including the ban on trail hunting – but have raised concerns over a lack of deadlines to introduce the changes.

The Government unveiled a long-awaited package of policies to improve the lives of pets and animals on farms and in the wild. It includes pledges to end the horrors of cruel puppy farms, look into banning the use of electric shock collars for pets, clamping down on dog attacks on farm animals and a ban on trail hunting.

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But the strategy does not have a clear timeline for bringing in the measures, only pledging to have the strategy in place by the end of 2030.

Owen Sharp, chief executive of the Dogs Trust, welcomed the strategy but added: “The Strategy does not include clear timescales, stating only an ambition to make progress by the end of 2030.

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“We strongly believe that some of the measures, such as those set out to tackle puppy smuggling under the Animal Welfare Bill, must be implemented as soon as possible and cannot be delayed by up to five years. We are therefore keen to understand when these measures will be delivered.”

Green MP Adrian Ramsay said: “There is much to welcome in the Animal Welfare Strategy, but it must have real teeth to deliver for animals. Ministers must set clear timescales to phase out crates and cages, properly support farmers through the transition and not allow imports that don’t meet UK standards.”

No10 added it does not have a precise timeline but that a consultation on trail hunting will begin next year. It also said the Government will consider all the recommendations Baroness Minette Batters’ review into farm profitability.

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