The Further Decline of the Hunting Fraternity...

[krimpatul]

Once again I ask, if it hurts the horse, why do it? Feeding it,paying for vets and putting it to sleep when the time comes are all fine BUT why do somethibg that hurts it?

Because it makes its main look prettier. It's what you call a symbiotic relationship. We give the horse lots of benefits and it gives us lots of benefits one of which is looking pretty.

Does main pulling hurt the horse? Not much I think and probably less then a good hard thwack with a whip while on the trail of a fox.

 

[wrighty]

"Because it makes its main look prettier"
Wow, what a great argument, it's ok to hurt something because it makes it look better. I bet all abused animals and people are thinking just the same. Hmmmmm?

"Does main pulling hurt the horse? Not much I think and probably less then a good hard thwack with a whip while on the trail of a fox."
We have already sort of decided that it hurts when someone compaired it to pulling human hair but thanks for pointing out the wonderful "symbiotic relationship" between the owner/master and the horse that is whipped to make it go faster.

 

[severnmiles]

Not forgetting the humble snare.

This is yet another problem, antis refuse to agree that foxes need controlling, farmers always want them controlled. No matter what stats the antis use to maintain they don't need culling there will always be a problem fox that needs dispatching.

They (antis/sabs/what have you) thought that they would save foxes lives when a ban came into place, the truth though is that they have not saved the life of a single fox and infact I know of some farmers in England who eradicated any foxes on their land and filled in the earths, spiteful..yes...and not exactly what you'd call controlling the population but after meddling townies put their mark on the countryside what choice did they have?

 

[severnmiles]

A small price to pay, just like the pain us ladies endure week in week out to look 'pretty' for you men. Lets face it, its expected of us.

And unlike us, our mounts only have to endure it something silly like every month/6weeks and I'm thoughtful, always make sure he's worked first so he's hot and his pores are open. My ex's horse is hogged so he doesn't have to go through it anyway.

 

[Blairite]

<<<<"One point of interest will be when there was a slight delay in payments from the RPA. Mrs. Beckett personally intervened and ensured that the chief executive was removed from post and that the matter was dealt with in the most responsible way. ">>>>

<<Do you think this looks like responsible management ?>>

Of course there were serious errors, that has been acknowledged. The article you highlighted did state that Mrs. Beckett had only ever spoken to the Chief Executive of the RPA on two occasions and one of those was the day before she dismissed him. Clearly, that was the right decision for her to make and any compensation or claims he makes subsequent to that are hardly a matter for her. I think the most important thing is we recognise that lessons have been learnt and now would be a good time to draw a line under the matter and move on, for the good of the rural communites. It just won't do to keep living in the past Wurzel. One needs to be more positive about one's situation and look at the additional investment that has gone in.

<<I think this government certainly knows how to take the piss !!>>

I don't see how you can make such a claim. The Government acted swiftly to try and put right the serious errors at the RPA. Mrs. Beckett was promoted shortly afterwards, I suspect in part as a result of her Formidable actions.

<<maybe it would be a good idea for us all to become state employees, like you, and then none of us have to really try...>>

Come now Wurzel, you are being flippant. We are the party of hard work, innovation and thrift - if that is not your forte then I suggest you stick with your Liberal Democrats.

<<Then Britain would be truly great !!>>

It is!

<<Interesting ! So why are there less farms producing less every year since 1997 ?>>>>

<<<<I do not recognise these figures. Could you provide a reliable source for this most spurious of claims?>>>>

You will also note that in some areas production is significantly up on previous years. Production does tend to fluctuate. This is the case across the world in a variety of areas, not just agriculture.

<<Where you will also see that imports are going up.>>

Trade is important of course in many respects. We should try to promote British goods where possible and encourage more people into farming. Agriculture should have more of a feature in the curriculum, in my opinion, which would help young people to understand the way farms operate and the subsidies they receive.

<<http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/auk/default.asp
And there is the propaganda.
Even they are struggling to hide the truth !!>>

I do not believe it is a case of trying to hide the truth. Defra are publishing the true picture with regards the reality of the situation. Of course there are some difficult challenges, but its surely better for the Department to publish them and face them head on. I am sure that you will appreciate that it is very much an uphill struggle. Farmers are generally politically disengaged and tend to disagree with any Government intervention or regulation, whether or not it is crucial to the rural communities. It is a case of changing mindsets and demonstrating to farmers just how grateful they ought to be in the long run for the huge support and investment in agriculture.

Regards

Lord_Blairite

 

[Eagle_day]

"Further to that Wurzel, you will know that there has been a confirmed case of Foot&Mouth in Surrey. It seems to me that lessons have been learnt since the last outbreak and operational activity is very much underway in order to contain, control and eradicate this most distressing of diseases. The PM and Environment Secretary, the Steadfast Hillary Benn have both returned early from their holidays to attend CoBRA, the Governments emergency committee. The PM has been in video conference with various ministers to keep a handle on the situation. He has also ordered an initial report to be on his desk in the next 48 hours, as well as ordering an independent inquiry and review in Bio-security at Pirbright. Measures are in place, so lets have none of the usual talk of incompetence and a lack of action. These are the actions of a responsible government, committed to farming and the rural communities, now and for the long term."

Do you really believe that? You must work for Veggie Benn's Defra.

At least with the floods, Labour cuts because of the RPA fiasco only exacerbated the disaster. With FMD, they appear to have caused it.

 

[Blairite]

<<Do you really believe that? You must work for Veggie Benn's Defra>>

The facts speak for themselves. Everything that can be done, is being done.

<<At least with the floods, Labour cuts because of the RPA fiasco only exacerbated the disaster>>

Nonsense. Investment in flood defences is increasing. Compensation can be claimed back by local authorities from central government using the Belwyn formula.

<<With FMD, they appear to have caused it.>>

Jumping to conclusions, without any evidence. We must wait for the relevant reports and the let the independent inquiry take its course. I wouldn't like to pre-judge the outcome. If mistakes were made, then of course, further lessons will need to be learnt and officials made accountable. That is the way responsible governments govern. As Wurzel knows, Labour govern for the whole country!

Regards

Lord_Blairite

 

[Eagle_day]

"Everything that can be done, is being done"
1. Transporting infected carcasses from Surrey to Somerset in sheeted-down grain lorries
2. Leaving rights of way open in the 3 km zone
Everything?

Labour cuts because of the RPA fiasco - £15m from EA's budget last year.

"That is the way responsible governments govern."
But not this government. There wasn't a public enquiry after the 2001 catastrophe; and there won't be one this time. The old line: 'lessons will be learnt; it's time to move on'. And are public sector employees ever held accountable? Maybe we will eventually hear the truth; all I can hear now is the scrabbling of civil servants covering their backsides.

 

[Blairite]

Eagle_day old chum,

In retrospect, you can now look back and say that actually the Government handled the situation very well indeed. It is a pity you were so quick to cry foul and appoint blame, rather than recognise the action that was being taken for the good of the rural communities and indeed the country, now and for the long term!

Regards

Lord_Blairite

 

[Eagle_day]

No, I can't. The outbreak was released from a Government facility. The 1967 virus doesn't exist anywhere else in the world, other than the Purbright site.

 

[Blairite]

I am not clear that the source has yet been ascertained for certained.

Your claim was that this situation would become a crisis and you alledged that the Government was failing to take the appropriate action to halt the spread of the virus. We can now say that you were wrong and that infact the Governments swift actions under the leadership of the Steadfast Hillary Benn halted any further contamination from occuring.

The irony is that you along with many farmers and those of the Hunting Fraternity, actually wanted the virus to spread further in order to use it against the Government. As we know the last time there was an outbreak, the contamination was spread quickly due to a lack of care and an ignorance of good animal husbandry on farms. The advice of MAFF was ignored and scoffed at. However, I accept that mistakes were made. For this reason Mr. Blair abolished the department and created the revolutionary Defra under the leadership of the Formidable Mrs. Beckett. Great work continues there despite her absence from Government, but be in no doubt, her legacy lives on.

Regards

Lord_Blairite

 

[wurzel]

What advice from MAFF was ignored ?

 

[Eagle_day]

Thank goodness the outbreak, which clearly originated at Purbright, did not spread. One of my earliest memories was the 1967 outbreak and I don't want to re-live it, any more than I would wish to see 2001 again. Perhaps we owe more thanks to the biosecurity self-imposed by farmers than any Government leadership from the 'Steadfast [but wrongly spelt] Hillary Benn'. The lack of precautions in leaving nearby footpaths open and transporting culled stock in grain wagons did not inspire confidence, but thankfully Defra got away with it.

Your allegations that the hunting fraternity, whoever they are, wanted the disease to spread are fatuous. Any prolonged outbreak would have caused immense suffering and financial loss to our friends, and delayed the hunting season by months.

As for Beckett, she is a standing joke. For some reason and before she lost her seat as Lincoln's MP, she was known as Beckett the Bike - some legacy!

 

[Blairite]

You were around at the time Wurzel. I don't need to rake up old ground. It is now time to draw a line under these matters and move on, for the good of the rural communities.

Regards

 

[Blairite]

<<Thank goodness the outbreak, which clearly originated at Purbright, did not spread.>>

The outbreak at 'Purbright' (but wrongly spelt) was contained thanks to the swift actions of this Government.

<<Perhaps we owe more thanks to the biosecurity self-imposed by farmers than any Government leadership>>

LOLOLOLOL!!!!! What self-imposed measures are these? A bucket of bleach at each gate? Common sense surely.

<<Your allegations that the hunting fraternity, whoever they are,>>

You and yours.

<<As for Beckett, she is a standing joke. For some reason and before she lost her seat as Lincoln's MP, she was known as Beckett the Bike - some legacy!>>

Utter bilge. Mrs. Beckett was well respected (and feared) across Government for her Formidable approach. It was a sad day in Whitehall when she chose to bow out of Cabinet Government gracefully. She is sorely missed.

Regards

Lord_Blairite

 

[wurzel]

You said....



"The advice of MAFF was ignored and scoffed at."

I want to know what you mean exactly.

Have you got the guts to answer or not you little coward ?

 

[Eagle_day]

"Utter bilge. Mrs. Beckett was well respected (and feared) across Government"

Ah, not by most people then. Her appointment as foreign secretary - to which her response was 'f*ck' - was the nadir of Blair's government. She's yesterday's woman, like her former boss and your patron - remember Tony Blair anyone? It isn't funny how he's utterly disappeared?

 

[Blairite]

<<Ah, not by most people then.>>

Evidence for this claim? No, of course not!

<<Her appointment as foreign secretary - to which her response was 'f*ck' - was the nadir of Blair's government>>

The surprise came at realising that she was to be the country's FIRST EVER Foreign Secretary. A well deserved post indeed.

<<remember Tony Blair anyone? It isn't funny how he's utterly disappeared?>>

You berk. He is Special Envoy for the UN Quartet and working to achieve peace in the middle east. Try picking up a paper or looking past your own nose now and again.

Regards

 

[Blairite]

Wurzel,

I have answered your questions repeatedly. You rarely, if ever, take in the information I give you. You really must pay attention, unless you want to fall to the bottom of the class like Severnbiles and Soggy Brain.

Regards

 

[wurzel]

So what was the answer?

What advice from MAFF was ignored and scoffed at ?

Are you struggling ?

 

[wurzel]

"The surprise came at realising that she was to be the country's FIRST EVER Foreign Secretary. A well deserved post indeed."


The first ever foreign secretary !!!! Now there is a shock.

they conjure up a post just for her and then ditch it again.

What a talent ! What a babe !

I think her husband should get a medal.

 

[Eagle_day]

... or a lovely new caravan.

 

[Eagle_day]

Sticks and stones ...

"You berk. He is Special Envoy for the UN Quartet and working to achieve peace in the middle east. Try picking up a paper or looking past your own nose now and again."

I do and I still haven't seen him. Has he lost any weight?

As to whether he has any credibility in his role, it is rather like f*cking for chastity.

 

[Blairite]

<<The first ever foreign secretary !!!! Now there is a shock.>>

Wurzel,

I meant the FIRST EVER WOMAN Foreign Secretary!

<<What a talent ! What a babe !>>

Finally you take on the idea. She was the original of the Blair Babes! ;-)

Regards