John Denham

Welcome to the website of John Denham

John Denham has been representing Southampton Itchen in Parliament since 1992. 

He is currently Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. 

On this website you'll find news about what John's been up to in both Southampton and Westminster. 

You can get in touch with John on constituency issues by following the link below.

 

Why I'm backing the ban

Boxing Day used to be the centre of the fox hunting calendar, and this year’s is the fifth since the Bill to ban hunting with dogs was introduced.

The ban is making a real difference.  Since it came into force, dozens of prosecutions have been brought under the Act, and the supposed dire effects on rural communities have not come to pass.

However, the Hunting Act is under threat if the Tories have their way.  They have made it clear that they want to get rid of it as soon as possible, with their “animal welfare” spokesperson claiming that if they win the General Election in a few months time one of their priorities would be to scrap the ban

According to a recent Ipsos Mori poll, three quarters of the population do not want hunting with dogs to be made legal again; this even includes 72% of the rural population who back the ban.

This makes it absolutely clear the Tories haven’t changed: like their tax cut for millionaires this shows they’re willing to ignore public opinion in favour of keeping the privileged few happy. That’s why we need to continue to campaign to stop this barbaric ‘sport’ from returning to our land.

David Cameron used to hunt, until his PR advisers told him not to.  He even talked about hunting in his first ever speech to Parliament and he has said that if he becomes Prime Minister he will get rid of it as soon as possible.

It is essential the public send him, and the rest of the Conservative party, a clear message this Boxing Day. Like the vast majority of people I think that barbaric act of letting dogs tear foxes to pieces with their teeth shouldn’t return to our countryside. That’s why I’m supporting www.backtheban.com and am urging everyone in the city to sign up to the ‘Back the Ban’ campaign too.