Why I back hunting - MP Barry speaks out

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner ^ | Sep 21 2004 | NA

[neverdem]

HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman has defended his outspoken "no" vote to a ban on hunting.

Taking a stand against the vast majority of his Labour colleagues, he was one of only three Government members who voted against the ban last week, amid turbulent scenes inside and outside the House of Commons.

"I have always been someone who came into politics to fight for the rights of minorities," he said yesterday.

Some political commentators believe the overwhelming ``yes" vote had a deeply political motive - to revenge Margaret Thatcher's treatment of the miners 20 years ago.

Mr Sheerman said: "Although I don't hunt, or have much knowledge of hunting, I know I never wanted to see our present government acting like the previous administration."

He agreed with many Liberal Democrat MPs who were trying to find a compromise.

"I have always supported compromise, a middle way," said Mr Sheerman.

He questioned why the Parliament Act had been invoked. The powerful Act rams legislation through the House of Lords.

He said previous experience of living in the country made him more aware of the issues dealing with hunting with dogs.

He once kept ducks and chickens and was well aware of the threat they faced from foxes.

Mr Sheerman said the use of dogs to catch and quickly kill those foxes was more humane than shooting them and leaving them, possibly injured, to die in agony.

He said that while some New Labour MPs were well intentioned, others had been waiting to atone for some of the actions of Mrs Thatcher.

[neverdem]

Some political commentators believe the overwhelming ``yes" vote had a deeply political motive - to revenge Margaret Thatcher's treatment of the miners 20 years ago.

What does that statement mean, just to exercise power for its own sake to aggravate the opposition?

[tjwmason]

What does that statement mean, just to exercise power for its own sake to aggravate the opposition?

Do you know the history of the miners' strike in the early '80s?

Basically, the National Union of Mineworkers (N.U.M.) was controlled by a hard-line Marxist (at one point it was being funded by Libya), who refused to allow any mine closures. The mines were all government owned, and mostly totally un-economical. This was also at a time when the Trades Union movement was very strong. The miners had effectively brought down the pseudo-Conservative government of Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath in 1974; and they tried it again. Lady Thatcher (as she is now), refused to move, and there was a long campaign lasting about a year, during which the miners pretty much tried to start a civil war. Thatcher won, and it became a cause celebre of the hard-left.

Hunting is seen as a sport for 'toffs' because it uses old traditions, and because most 'toffs' hunt (though most hunters are far from being 'toffs'). Thus the left see the ban as part of the class-war (they really do still think in such terms).

Thus it is not so much exercising power for its own sake, but showing that they (the 'workers', or some similar nonsense appellation) hold the power now, and can use it to attack those who attacked them (as they see it).