Posted on 11/22/2004 1:13:02 PM PST by neverdem
The passing of the Hunting Act banning the centuries old sport of fox hunting means that the issue looks set to cast a long shadow over the forthcoming General Election campaign.
The outcome of yesterday’s events in Parliament could hardly have been worse for Tony Blair, who right to the bitter end had hoped that a compromise solution could be found.
The act will now come into effect on February 18, less than three months before the expected date of the election.
It raises the prospect of a campaign dominated by pro-hunt protests and stunts designed to upset Labour’s prospects at the polls.
The Countryside Alliance – which is spearheading the fight to overthrow the ban – has already shown its ability to mobilise the rural community through mass marches and demonstrations.
Individual pro-hunt campaigners have underlined their determination by breaching security at the Palace of Westminster to confront ministers on the floor of the Commons chamber.
There have already been threats of a campaign of civil disobedience, with landowners refusing to allow the Ministry of Defence train on their property and blocking siting of electricity pylons.
Such action is almost certain to escalate as the election approaches.
There is also the prospect of emotive television pictures of hounds no longer needed for hunting being taken away to be put down.
Pro-hunt supporters also have promised to turn out in force to campaign for individual candidates who back repeal of the ban.
For a Prime Minister already facing bitter opposition over the Iraq war, it is another unwelcome headache as he prepares to go to the polls.
Nevertheless, Mr Blair can take some comfort from the fact that, despite the intensity of the feeling of the hunt supporters, the numbers actually involved in the sport are still relatively small.
It also is far from clear the opposition parties will be able to effectively harness the issue to unseat Labour.
That's what he gets for being such a stooge for the PETA folks.
I am so very happy to hear that in the socialist utopia of the UK that everything is running so well that politicians have time to worry about fox hunting.
You are correct, Blair is a big boy and knows how to protect himself politically.
Any consequences are his.
I saw a post over the weekend in which the pro-ban people admitted that it was all about class.
I remember the luxury tax on boats that hurt a lot of people. Not the ones buying
the boats, but the workers in the boating industry.
Yeah, so some well-to-do people like chasing rodents over hill n' dale. Their expensive
"hobby" provides incomes or suplementary incomes to a good number of people.
If any of those hunters feel an urgent need to hunt, they're welcome to come on down to the ranch. We have plenty of coyotes that need harvesting. That's close enough to foxes, right? :)
Just keep an eye out for hmong in your hunting blinds.
you nailed it.
:-)
I saw two different foxes while bowhunting in Maryland on Saturday. Apparently the yotes have not moved into my hunting area yet. I hear that when they do, they displace or kill the foxes in the area.
I will be hunting in South Dorchester this Saturday and every week until New Years. I have only rarely seen foxes in the swamps, but Whitetails and Sikas are very common (and tasty).
First they take away your right to own firearms, then they take away your right to hunt. What next, no right to question government?
THE ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland has resulted in a doubling of the number of foxes killed, it emerged last night. New figures obtained by Scotland on Sunday show that large numbers of foxes are now being shot by hunters, and dozens of the animals continue to be legally killed by hounds. Scotland biggest hunt, the Buccleuch, killed an average of 50 foxes a season prior to the ban. Figures produced by the huntsmen themselves show that for 2003-04, it alone killed more than 100.
---The current controversy is a good reason for Americans to be happy that we don't have an "unwritten constitution" and parliamentary dictatorship, as has developed in Britain over the past century.---
Exactly right! Their gun rights were nothing more than tradition. Once the majority of the population wouldn't support that tradition it was gone. Americans are generally unaware that the British have no recourse against acts of parliament except to petition their member of parliament or ultimately elect new members.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.