YOUR anonymous correspondent writes "We have the most democratic free country in the world" (There is no excuse for breaking the law, Letters, December 18.)

Hunting wild mammals with dogs for sport would have been banned many years ago if we had a democratically elected parliament. I am unable to recall having been given an opportunity to participate in the election of our Head of State or for the fox hunting aristocracy in the House of Lords.

Their unelected Lordships, in the upper chamber, repeatedly opposed and frustrated the passage of anti blood-sporting legislation during the past two or three decades. This does not sound very democratic to me.

Your correspondent also claims there is no excuse for breaking the law. His comments were directed at the recent student riots in Parliament Square, but I wonder what he would have to say about the 40,000 country gentry and country-sports fanatics who in 2004 signed a declaration saying they would defy the law if the Bill to ban hunting with dogs for sport was enacted. Hunt supporters also held a violent demonstration in Parliament Square similar to that of the students.

The preamble to the declaration reads: 'This issue relates to not only the sport and freedom that we cherish, but also the flagrant abuse of our civil rights as a law abiding minority'.

It is interesting to note that the declaration makes no mention of vermin control or the need to control fox numbers. From my knowledge of hunting I am well aware that the only need for control is to ensure a sufficiently high number of foxes is maintained and are available for the sport of hunting with hounds.

John Phelps

Argyll Road, Exeter