Fox Hunting

[Scott Frodsham]

VOTE ON FOX HUNTING

The Government has announced a free vote on a Bill to outlaw hunting foxes with dogs.

The vote, which will also include a ban on hare-coursing, is expected to be rushed through the House of Commons in the next two weeks.

Rural affairs minister Alun Michael said a date for the Bill to be debated in the Commons would be announced by Leader of the House Peter Hain on Friday.

It is widely expected to take place on Wednesday next week, with a vote the same day.

He made clear that the Government was ready to invoke the Parliament Act to force the Bill through if the House of Lords attempted to block a vote in favour by MPs.

The Act would mean any objections from the House of Lords could be over-ruled.

But it may still take two years before the ban comes into effect - after the next General Election.

Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Hunting Bill is coming back to the House of Commons.

"This heralds the high point of our 80-year campaign to expose fox hunting as a cruel sport and to get it banned."

But shadow environment secretary Tim Yeo said a Conservative government would simply reverse the ban.

He said: "The vast majority of Conservatives believe a ban is an infringement of civil liberties and damaging to the countryside."

 

[BeeJay]

So we have to hope/make sure that they won't get back in again.

 

[Strike Whippets]

I've never voted conservative in my life ........Looks like i'll have to change my voting ways :- "

 

[Scott Frodsham]

Some people have never voted! It's this apathy that needs addressing! :angry:

 

[Strike Whippets]

I know.......but i have always voted :thumbsup:

 

[Dennis Green]

The proposed ban on hunting with dogs has absolutely nothing to do with animal welfare. It is purely POLITICAL. I now read that if the bill is passed, the ban on hare coursing is to be implemented by February 2005, in time to stop the next Waterloo Cup meeting. The only good thing coming out of Conservative H.O.

is that they will 'introduce a Government Bill to reverse Labour's plan.' (If they get in!!)

John Greenwood has posted a schedule of meetings to be called by the Countryside Alliance. Whatever your views of this organisation may be, we should all stand up and be counted by attending one of these meetings. Apathy creates bad laws and the people who moan most are those who do nothing.

I have been to both of the Countryside Alliance rallys in London and I hope that the CA will organise another in view of this latest move by the government.