Head of the League Against Cruel Sports shares far-right posts
On 24 June 2024, just days before the UK General Election, Astrid Clifford—then Chair of Trustees at the League Against Cruel Sports—shared her political sympathies with the world. Not through a call for stronger animal protection laws, but by reposting an inflammatory and misleading article from The Publica, a far-right platform known for stoking racial resentment.
She didn’t do it once. She did it three times. The article, headlined “Germany Woman Convicted of Offending Migrant Gang Rapists Receives Longer Prison Sentence Than the Rapists”, was quickly debunked. The woman had not been jailed for “offending” anyone, but for issuing a criminal threat, failing to appear in court, and having a prior conviction.
These facts were omitted by The Publica, which is less a news source than a conveyor belt for xenophobia.
What Is The Publica and Why Does It Matter?
Founded by far-right content creators Sydney Watson and Jeremy Hambly, The Publica has one goal: to fuel culture wars. It is notorious for targeting immigrants, feminists, progressives, and minorities with outrage-driven clickbait and disinformation.
This is the source Clifford chose to amplify—not once, but three times. And not in private, but on a public platform, as the senior-most trustee of a UK animal charity.
A Betrayal of the League’s Mission and Values
The League Against Cruel Sports presents itself as a voice for compassion—for justice. It claims to campaign against cruelty and to represent a broad, inclusive community of animal lovers. But compassion does not stop at species. And justice does not apply only to foxes.
To share divisive, dehumanising rhetoric—particularly at a time of political tension—is to undermine everything the League says it stands for.
What message does this send to the League’s staff, supporters, and donors from migrant backgrounds or ethnic minorities? That their rights and lives are expendable, as long as the foxes are safe?
Code of Conduct? What Code of Conduct?
The League’s own Trustees’ Code of Conduct states clearly that trustees must “maintain and uphold the reputation of the League Against Cruel Sports at all times” and avoid material that could bring the charity into disrepute.
Clifford’s actions do precisely that. And yet, the League’s leadership has issued a statement saying her posts did not breach the code. In other words, a trustee can amplify racist misinformation and remain in post.
That is not just a failure of discipline. It is a failure of moral leadership.
Clifford’s Defence: Move Along, Nothing to See Here
When asked to comment, Clifford responded:
“I think we will best serve animals if we focus on what we agree on… rather than looking for areas we disagree on… I imagine Wildlife Betrayed has more productive things it could be doing than scrutinising my X and Facebook posts…”
This is not a minor disagreement. This is not a question of tone or interpretation. It is about the public endorsement of far-right propaganda by a leader in a registered UK charity. If Clifford cannot see the difference, she should not be anywhere near public responsibility.
Time for Clifford to Go—and for the League to Wake Up
The question is not whether Clifford should step down. That much is obvious. The real question is why she hasn’t already. And why the League Against Cruel Sports, a once-principled organisation, is standing by her.
It’s time for the League to rediscover its ethical spine. And it’s time for Astrid Clifford to do the only decent thing left to her: resign.
We will be publishing more of her online activity in the weeks ahead.
