Charles Jardine, Director of the Countryside Alliance Campaign for Angling, will be spending the night at the Countryside Alliance’s vigil on Parliament Square next Wednesday, 14 August.
The vigil has been manned on a round the clock basis since May 15 and has had a different hunt in attendance each day. This will be the first time that the vigil has not been manned by a hunt.
Jardine said: “Even leaving aside the political threat to hunting, angling and shooting are now clearly next on the list for the antis and also for many politicians.
“I will do everything in my power to protect my own sport, and the hunting community has already been immensely supportive.
“We must show a united front and do all we can to ensure the continuance of country sports, not just for ourselves, but for future generations. I will be spending the night out in the cold for country sports, tying flies and making my point in the best way I can.
“I will also be marching for the countryside in next month’s Liberty & Livelihood March in London on 22 September, and would urge all anglers who love their sport to join us.
“I am confident that if we continue to make our point and leave Parliament in no doubt about the strength of our feelings, we will all still be enjoying the beauty of Britain’s waterways and countryside long into the future”.
· The vigil is a campaign for hunting initiative and is part of the Alliance’s “Summer of Discontent”. It will be in Parliament Square until further notice.
· Any anglers interested in registering for the march please call the registration hotline on 0900 102 0900 (calls cost 60p/min. Max cost £1.80. Hours of operation 8am-8pm seven days a week).