Lords block anti-hunting bill

Wednesday, 22 October 2003 5:38 AM

The House of Lords yesterday again rejected proposals for a complete ban on hunting with dogs.

MPs are said to be furious with pro-hunt peers after they reintroduced amendments that would allow the registering of hunts.

The cross party amendment permitting some form of hunting with dogs, albeit strictly controlled, was passed by 261 votes to 49 - a majority of 212.

In July, MPs, in a free vote, overwhelmingly rejected the Government's proposals to license hunts and called for a complete ban on hunting with dogs.

The original Hunting Bill allowed licensed foxhunting in some parts of the country but banned stag hunting and hare coursing.

This latest act of obstructionism will almost certainly lead to the Government using the Parliament Act, a parliamentary mechanism that can force the Bill through the Chambers and onto the statute books.

Lord Graham of Edmonton, a Labour peer and former government whip, argued in favour of a complete ban.

He said hunt supporters wanted to "disembowel" the Bill.

"I have wanted all my life to see a piece of legislation with these words in it," he said.

Lord Whitty said he did not accept the 100 amendments tabled by peers.

The Hunting Bill is likely to return to the Commons in the next few weeks.

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