MPs pave the way for total ban on hunting
In the Commons last night, MPs resisted calls to embrace the “third way” on hunting and backed instead an outright ban on fox hunting with dogs in England and Wales.
MPs rejected plans to permit some form of foxhunting under strict regulation, while sustaining a ban on stag-hunting and hare-coursing.
The whip was held back as it was deemed sufficiently conscionable that MPs should have a free vote on the issue.
Anti-hunt MPs were aided in their campaign after Environment Minister Alun Michael withdrew a proposed amendment at the last minute, which may have prevented any vote on a complete ban.
Following five-and-a-half hours of deliberations, MPs voted 362 to 154 in favour of the ban, a majority of 208.
Mr. Michael said last night that the Hunting Bill would have to pass to a standing committee for “tidying up” prior to the summer recess, given the changes introduced.
Consequently, the Bill will have to be re-timetabled for debate in the House of Lords. It may lose its July 17 slot in the Second Chamber, delaying options further.
Peers in the House of Lords, which historically has an eye to retaining hunting in some form, may try to delay the adoption of the Bill, but the Government has the option to use the Parliament Bill to ensure it becomes law.
Former sports minister Tony Banks tabled the amendment calling for a total ban. It received the backing of more than 100 MPs.
Mr. Banks said last night: “It is excellent news. We have got some tidying up to do, which we will do in committee, and hopefully we have achieved a total ban on the hunting of wild mammals with dogs, which is something we promised as a party that we would do.”
But he remained cautious on whether the Government would invoke the Parliament Act, stating: “We have promises that the Parliament Act will be used, but until the piece of legislation is signed off by the Secretary of State, we can never be certain of anything.”
Simon Hart, head of the Countryside Alliance, said he was confident the bill was “wrecked” and would not get through Parliament.
“Rather than the death of hunting, this is the death of the Hunting Bill,” he said.
