Post by Taxigirl on Nov 1, 2003 10:53:16 GMT
Rallies have begun around England and Wales in protest against moves to outlaw hunting with dogs.
Thousands of protesters at 11 rallies, held on the first day of the new hunting season, were expected to sign a pledge to ignore any ban.
A bill to ban hunting was in effect killed off on Thursday after the House of Lords ran out of time to debate it.
But the government has hinted it might use the Parliament Act to force the legislation onto the statute books.
The rallies are being staged by the Countryside Alliance and the Council of Hunting Associations.
One of the biggest is being held in Trimdon, in the prime minister's constituency of Sedgefield.
About 6,000 people are already said to have signed the declaration to disobey, peacefully, any ban on hunting and then face the legal consequences.
Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said the pledge of civil disobedience was a big step for most law-abiding hunt fans to take.
"This is not a step that anyone will be taking lightly, but many people feel that it is a legitimate act of protest in response to the threat of deeply prejudiced legislation," he said.
'Cruel and barbaric'
The chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, Douglas Batchelor, said the protesters were clearly wrong.
"What you're seeing today... is people who are saying they can't accept the judgement of Parliament or the tide of history, that these cruel and barbaric sports should be banned."
The first of the protests was held in Rydal in Cumbria on Friday, where more than a thousands hunt supporters gathered in the wind and rain to make their case.
In June of this year, MPs voted to completely outlaw hunting with dogs in England and Wales.
But on Thursday peers effectively blocked the Hunting Bill by voting to adjourn its committee stage to another day.
Ministers now have the option to reintroduce the bill in the Commons when the new session starts later this month.
If it was passed again by MPs, it would then go to the Lords in early 2004.
If peers voted to block the bill for a second time, the Parliament Act - a rarely used instrument to enforce the will of MPs if there is deadlock with peers - could be invoked.
If it was used, a ban could become law by autumn of next year.
Hunting has already been banned in Scotland.
THE HUNTING BILL
Proposes a wholesale ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales
Failed to get through Lords last week
Could be re-introduced when the Commons returns later in November
If the Lords block it again, MPs could use the Parliament Act to force it through
Could then become law by autumn of next year
BAN IT NOW FFS
"sport!" Where's the level playing field ? ? ?
