The lack of support for fox hunting was shown clearly at the European Elections in the North West when the pro-foxhunting political group the Countryside Party received just 0.5% of the vote. This despite using the same tactics as the Countryside Alliance in hiding their real agenda behind 'Rural Issues'. The vote backs the recent statement from Rural Minister Alun Michael when he said: 'In some of the big conversations in which I have taken part in rural areas, fox hunting has not come up as a major issue.'