IN this new year, I wish New Labour would clarify its policies on issues of so-called cruelty.

Tony The Tiresome was like a Jack Russell with a rat in his teeth over banning fox hunting, although I do not see how it will be enforced because I was not aware that exercising one's horse and dogs on private land was against the law - yet.

While this issue has had lots of time spent debating it, now we are told that, due to mild winters, the deer have been at it far too much of late, and their numbers are out of control. So the powers that be, New Labour, have deemed they will be culled, i.e. shot.

Does this mean that in a year or two when Foxy Woxy is enjoying mass production and raking around everyone's back garden that New Labour, if still around, will order a mass cull of them also?

I think our Government is planning a mega leaving party and is partial to a bit of venison.

I can just picture Two Jags Prescott munching away on a leg, Henry VIII style. Put me down for one please, because I am partial myself.

Bob Waite,

Windmill Rise,

Holgate, York.

Updated: 11:17 Wednesday, January 12, 2005