Reply #10: UK angler here....

[nickynoo]

This has been expected for a while here. Its not a major issue apart from the pike anglers club (PAC), who see it as an important method. However, deadbaiting (usually sea fish like herring and mackeral) has been shown to be as good if not better, and lure fishing is pretty effective as well.
Very few freshwater fish (apart from trout) are taken for the table (conservation is a top priority in UK angling), so it seems good sense to avoid unnecesary pain and damage to fish of all size and species. I believe the official reasoning IS fear of disease through the transfer of fish from one water to another, although the obvious pain and cruelty to the baitfish is probably at least as important (in the eyes of the public at least).
Dont forget that we have only recently banned fox and stag hunting here (personally, I was very pleased to see the end of these nasty "sports") :- fishing is the next obvious "target" for the anti-cruelty league.