Overview
- Ministers have committed to outlawing trail hunting and will open a consultation in early 2026 on how to implement the ban.
- Boxing Day meets are expected to draw tens of thousands of supporters, according to the Countryside Alliance.
- An ORB International survey reported that 65% of voters say Labour neglects rural areas, with 76% perceiving a focus on urban issues and 36% saying the government cares about countryside residents.
- The government points to a broader animal welfare strategy, including recent steps to give police greater powers to prevent dog attacks on livestock.
- After criticism over family farm taxation, the inheritance tax threshold for farmers was raised to £2.5 million per person, which ministers say leaves couples with estates up to £5 million paying no inheritance tax.