Seven Out Of Ten Scots Oppose Hunting With Dogs

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a member of the Scottish Campaign Against Hunting with Dog's (SCAHD) today released the results of a recent poll conducted by MORI Scotland showing that approximately 7 out of 10 Scots are opposed to hunting with dogs.

Overall the poll found that 67% of those polled were opposed to hunting with dogs compared to 10% in favour of hunting with dogs.

The poll breakdown by voting intention highlighted that 50% of Conservative, 76% of Labour, 70% SNP and 56% Liberal Democrat voters are opposed hunting with dogs (compared with only 19% Conservative, 7% Labour, 5% SNP and 16% Liberal Democrat being in favour).

In urban areas 71% of those polled said that they opposed hunting with dogs. In rural/semi-rural areas 62% of those polled said that they were opposed to hunting with dogs, compared to 8% urban support for hunting with dogs and 13% rural/semi-rural support for hunting with dogs.

The poll also revealed that 33% of those who took part in the survey would reconsider their voting intention (i.e. be potentially less likely to vote for an individual) if their MSP did not vote in support of the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill. The breakdown by voter intention is as follows 27% Conservative, 35% Labour, 38% SNP and 26% of Liberal Democrat.

In urban areas 37% of those polled and in rural/semi-rural areas 26% of those polled said that they would reconsider their voting intention if their MSP did not vote in favour of the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill.

Mrs Tricia Marwick MSP -co sponsor of the Bill said, "This poll is conclusive, a majority in urban and in rural/semi rural Scotland are opposed to hunting with dogs. I am confident the polling figures by political party will concentrate the minds of MSPs accordingly".

Peter Hastie from IFAW said, "If MSPs had any doubt about the strength of feeling in Scotland towards banning hunting with dog's, then this new survey will remove any such doubt. Clearly the Scottish people are appalled by the cruel and inhumane practise of hunting with dogs. a significant number, 32%, are so concerned that they would change their vote if their MSP voted against the introduction of the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill."

Sir Robert Worcester, Chairman of MORI said "The results indicate once again that when people are offered a straight choice for or against hunting, the majority - in this case by around 7 to 1 - choose the latter".

The first stage vote of the Bill by the Scottish Parliament takes place on Wednesday 19 September 2001. The Bill, if passed, would effectively ban hunting with dogs in Scotland.

The survey was conducted by MORI Scotland for IFAW between the 23rd and 29th of August 2001, and based on a nationally representative sample of 998 adults aged 18+, interviewed in-home across 40 sampling points throughout Scotland. Results are weighted to match the Scottish population profile.

Technical details

The Scottish Campaign Against hunting with Dogs (SCAHD) is supported by Advocates for Animals, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) & the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS).

SCAHD is chaired by Les Ward from Advocates for Animals in Scotland.

The Protection of Wild Mammals Bill is a private members bill put forward by Mike Watson MSP (LAB) and supported by Mrs Tricia Marwick MSP (SNP).

Now some questions about hunting with dogs (that is, fox hunting, deer hunting etc.)

Q1 Are you personally in favour or opposed to people hunting with dogs? IF IN FAVOUR OR OPPOSED is that strongly or tend to?

Q2 And to what extent would you support or oppose a ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland?

Q3 As you may know, the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill contains a proposal to ban hunting with dogs in Scotland, and is currently being discussed by MSPs at Holyrood. If your MSP did not support this Bill to ban hunting, how, if at all, would this affect the likelihood of your voting for them?

Q4 As well as being discussed by the full Scottish Parliament, the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill is being examined by a Parliamentary Committee on hunting with dogs, comprising a smaller number of MSPs with a particular interest in that area.

In principle, do you think the final decision on whether to pass the Bill or not should rest with the Full Scottish Parliament, or the Parliamentary Committee?

Q5 And which of these best describes the area where you live most of the time?