This demo was always going to massive. Bankrolled by the ruling classes to the tune of well over £1,000,000 free coaches, trains and a massive advertising campaign ensured that rural england came to London for their big day out. But where were the issues? I followed the demo for over 3 hours and every banner and placard was about some kind of hideous pastime. From blowing overweight pheasants out of the sky to ripping exhausted foxes to pieces, bloodsports seemed to be the only issue.
What a wasted opportunity! Healthcare, affordable housing, transport, unempoyement all these issues are making life in the countryside increasingly dificult for the have-nots of rural england. The C.A. is supposed to be a broad based coalition to address these issues. The reality is, as this demo demonstrates, the upperclasses are well and truly in charge of this phenominum and care little about anything except their right to kill and maim wild animals.
One drunken toffee-nosed inbred started barracking me and another journo about how a ban on hunting would destroy his community. "Tough shit" I said, "Now you know how the miners felt".