Letter: Farmer defies the feudal hunt

Sir: Your leading article of 11 July pontificates that banning fox-hunting is one of the least significant things on which Parliament could spend its time. You regard it as "an unnecessary diversion from vastly more important matters".

But this is a vastly important matter. It is important to the overwhelming majority of voters - 71 per cent according to the most recent MORI poll. The issue is not, as you selectively emphasise, fox-hunting, but all hunting with hounds. It is cruel and barbarous. It is also unsportsmanlike. There can be no fair contest between any wild creature and a pack of hounds, horses and self-styled humans in pursuit. Let us get rid of this shameful business now once and for all.

Dr RAY RACY

Bristol