Possible delay to fox hunting ban
Hunting with hounds may now, after all, not end in February after the Government indicated it might not oppose a legal challenge seeking a delay.
A ban on hunting with hounds in England and Wales is due to come into force on February 18th 2005 after a final bitter battle between the Commons and the Lords in the autumn.
Pro-hunting groups have threatened to mount a mass campaign of civil disobedience in the run up to the general election, with a particular targeting of Government ministers.
In addition, the Countryside Allowance are due to mount a series of court challenges, the first – according to the Times – will reach the High Court at the end of January.
It will argue that the original Parliament Act 1949 is invalid as it was not passed by the House of Lords. If they win the case, then any other legislation forced through by the act would also be invalid.
But, if their initial challenge in the High Court is thrown out, the pro-hunting group have already indicated that they intend to appeal. And, they would seek an injunction to prevent the law banning fox hunting coming into force until the courts rule finally on their legal challenge.
As the legal system moves slowly, if granted this could mean that fox hunting could continue for several months or up to a year.
Considerably improving the chances of an injunction being granted, is the revelation that the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith will not oppose such an injunction.
According to The Times, this inaction has been authorised by Tony Blair personally.
The latest twist in the long running saga is sure to infuriate anti-hunting MPs and animal welfare groups, who have repeatedly argued that there can be “no compromise on cruelty”.
John Cooper, chairman of the League Against Cruel Sports accused the Government of “cowardice”.
He said: “The Countryside Alliance tried the same thing in Scotland in 2002. The Scottish court rejected their case and their request for an injunction delaying the implementation of the ban. There was no delay in implementation of the hunting ban in Scotland while these desperate legal manoeuvres were undertaken.
“We have no reason to believe the English Courts will not do the same. We are appalled that Downing Street is giving into threats of violence, bullying and intimidation instead of defending the decisions of Parliament and doing everything within their power to uphold the Hunting Act which now has Royal Assent. There is no reason whatsoever for the law not to be enforced.”
