The traditional Boxing Day hunt, a centuries-old fixture in the British countryside, faces being permanently consigned to history under government plans for a total ban. Tens of thousands of participants and spectators who gathered for trail hunts across England and Wales on 26 December 2025 could be witnessing one of the final iterations of the event.
A New Animal Welfare Strategy Targets the Hunt
Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour administration is pushing to outlaw the field sport, a proposal embedded within its newly launched Animal Welfare Strategy. The government asserts the ban is a direct response to persistent concerns that trail hunting is frequently used as a smokescreen for the illegal pursuit and killing of foxes. If the legislation proceeds as planned, the activity will become a criminal offence by 2029.
The policy has ignited fierce criticism from rural community leaders and organisations. Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, accused the government of alienating the countryside. "When Keir Starmer said that he 'wanted a new relationship with the countryside' we all assumed he meant a better one," Bonner stated. "But in 18 months his government has alienated rural people and created the clear impression that it does not care about the countryside."
Economic Impact and Rural Resentment
The pressure group vigorously defends trail hunting, arguing it contributes more than £100 million annually to the rural economy. This financial claim is set against a backdrop of existing tension, with the Prime Minister already facing resentment from farming communities over recent changes to agricultural inheritance tax breaks.
A recent poll by ORB International appears to underscore a significant urban-rural divide. It found that only 36% of Britons believe the Labour government cares about people in the countryside. Furthermore, a substantial 76% of respondents felt the administration prioritises urban issues over rural ones.
The government's next step will be a formal consultation on the ban, with 'engagement with farmers and industry' scheduled for early 2026. The strategy also proposes outlawing puppy farms and snare traps. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "This government is committed to banning trail hunting, which is too often used as a cover for illegal fox hunting, and has strong public support across the country."
What is Trail Hunting and Why is it Controversial?
Trail hunting was devised as a legal alternative after the Hunting Act 2004 banned the hunting of wild mammals with dogs. It involves laying an artificial, animal-based scent for hounds to follow, with riders pursuing on horseback, theoretically without harming any wildlife.
However, anti-hunting groups like the League Against Cruel Sports contend the practice is a sham. They claim that in the previous hunting season, nearly 397 reports were recorded nationwide of foxes being chased by hounds. They argue trails are deliberately laid in areas populated by foxes and hares, leading to frequent illegal hunting.
The Countryside Alliance retorts that the government is now seeking to ban the very activity it once suggested as a legal alternative. With the policy set to advance in the new year, the battle lines between animal welfare campaigners and rural tradition are firmly drawn, threatening to end a Boxing Day custom for good.
