Just a point about the aforementioned RSPCA in all this - it should be noted they LONG distanced themselves from outright anti sentiment MANY years ago (if memory serves back when I was fishing in the 90s) and have been "okay" with "responsible" angling ever since. In fact I believe they even publicly confirmed that a few years ago when the last piece of animal welfare regs came into play. The only relating thing they're vocally against these days is fishing litter and illegally taking fish, which all of us responsible anglers are in complete agreement with anyway.
More generally, I can't see any of this ever being applied to angling - given the very specific things that are mentioned in the article (and all others I've read), angling is completely conspicuous by its absence. And, apart from anything else, so many MPs of all colours partake in fishing and/or hunting, only the most offensive and illegal aspects of both will be of interest in these regs.
EDIT - all of that being said, that's nevertheless a good response from the AT. That Jamie Cook seems to be a great bunch of lads with head firmly on shoulders.
