FOR Tory Councillor David Pearson to claim that the Labour Party cares more for animal welfare than the safety of "our children" from paedophiles is politics from the gutter (Letters, January 19).

This is an issue which goes above party politics and even David Pearson should not pander to the sensationalism that characterises much of the media coverage of the issue.

The Education Minister, Ruth Kelly, quite rightly ascertained all the facts before making her comments to the House of Commons.

Only by presenting the full and accurate facts could a proper debate about the measures needed to protect the public from paedophiles take place.

The barbaric and callous pastime of fox hunting was banned eight years after Labour came to power, so it was hardly a high priority for Labour.

Yet the Tory party leader, David Cameron, has promised that overturning the ban will be one of the first acts of a Tory government.

If Councillor Pearson is genuinely sincere in his belief that debating fox hunting puts "our children" at risk from paedophiles, I trust he will be resigning from the Tory party forthwith as a protest over his leader's misguided priorities.

PETER STRATTON, North West Animal Welfare, c/o PO Box 359, Chorley PR6 8WA, www.unethicaltimes.co.uk Tel: 07754 467065.