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I have seen much criticism of the Labour tactic at
Crewe of accusing the Tory candidate of being a "toff". The way this was conducted certainly seemed very clumsy
and was actually counter productive.
This is a shame, because there is an important thread of truth in the
message they are trying to get across. However, it goes much deeper than a pantomime depiction of a man in top hat and
tails. It has far more to do with the hunting fraternity, and their position at the hidden heart of Tory success.
The
rural power base is still surprisingly strong, and is connected to the considerable influence of landowners. If anyone
doubts this, they should ask tenant farmers and those living in tied cottages why they do not openly voice their
objection to hunting - they don't because they are beholden to the powerful members of the local hunt. This
was something that campaigners like myself found out along the way as we campaigned against the cruelty involved in hunting.
We discovered a complex and inflexible structure which we have named the "rural mafia".
This centuries old power
base was shaken to its foundations by the ban on hunting, which goes against everything they believe - i.e. that they,
as land-owners, can do as they please, and no-one can tell them there is something they may not do. Undoubtedly
some people who hunt are not rich landowners, but they are dependent upon them for the land on which to hunt, and
so they have joined the ranks at an inferior level.
Vast sums of money have been poured into the campaign to retain hunting,
and the massive amount of lawbreaking that has gone on since the ban is another demonstration that they believe them-selves
above the law.
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David Cameron is the very epitome of the fraternity they belong
to - he is truly one of them, and he now has the benefit of the machinations of Vote OK, an organisation which mobilises
hunts and their followers to canvass for Tory pro-hunting candidates in all seats, in both local and national elections.
In marginal seats, such actions can make or break a result.
The canvassers who are motivated by their long-term strategy to see hunting re-legalised do not tell voters about
this, in fact they steer clear of the subject as they know it is a vote loser.
No-one should be in any doubt that
David Cameron is as loyal a tribal member of his background as it is possible to be - this is perfectly illustrated
by his standard condemnation of lawbreakers, with just one exception - his hunting friends, who are defended by him.
He is on record as saying the ban is being "widely flouted" and "should be repealed".
This thread of support for the Tories is disturbing and
unhealthy, and would be deplored by many people who have just voted Conservative for the first time, and are almost
certainly completely unaware of what is going on.
Labour strategists should perhaps replace the top hat
and tails with a red jacket and riding breeches.
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