Torfaen MP joins forces with Queen guitarist Brian May to defend the Hunting Ban

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FREE PRESS
Friday 10 July 2015 by Chris Seal

Brian and Nick Thomas_Symonds MP
TEAM FOX: Forfaen MP Thomas-Symonds and former Queen guitarist Brian May met to discuss the Conservative plan to make changes to the Hunting Act

TORFAEN MP Nick Thomas-Symonds has joined forces with Team Fox and Dr Brian May in a fight to keep the ban on hunting in place. Mr

Thomas-Symonds and former Queen guitarist Brian May met last week to discuss the Conservative plan to make changes to the Hunting Act. The pair have pledged to work together to battle for animal welfare and keep the ban on hunting in place during this parliament.

Nick Thomas-Symonds said he was “delighted” to be working with Brian, a well known animal rights activist, and Team Fox in the campaign. During the meeting we spoke about politics and Parliament, but most of all about our need to maintain the Hunting Act and champion animal rights here in Parliament,” said Mr Thomas-Symonds. “The Hunting Act was an important achievement of the last Labour Government and I will always vote against any legislation to repeal or weaken the Act. I will be encouraging colleagues to do the same when the Government brings forward a free vote on the issue on Wednesday.”

The Hunting Act, which came into force in 2005, bans the hunting of wild mammals including foxes, deer and hares, with dogs. It has proved to be the most successful wildlife legislation passed by Parliament, with over 400 prosecutions to date.

Brian May, besides being an astrophysicist and a Queen guitarist, also runs his own animal rights charity, the Save Me Trust, named after the Queen Song that he penned. The charity campaigns for the protection of all animals against unnecessary, cruel and degrading treatment. He was appointed vice-president of animal welfare charity the RSPCA in 2012,