OUTLAWING the cruel 'sport' of hunting wild animals with dogs has long enjoyed high levels of public support; a recent MORI poll shows 69 per cent want fox hunting to be illegal. Yet about 100,000 wild animals are still cruelly hounded to death annually.
Labour were elected in 1997 with a long-standing anti-hunt policy and a commitment to a ban if MPs wanted one. In 1998 the largest-ever majority for a Private Members Bill clearly showed they did. But, despite five more massive Commons votes for a ban, we have since had prevarication, delays, enquiries, options and blockage.
To effect a ban, the Government must bring back the Hunting Bill, allowing MPs to use the Parliament Act to overcome opposition by the unelected Lords. However, Ministers, including Tony Blair, will not commit publicly to this. We suspect they hope to allow a 'regulated' form of fox hunting to continue.
This issue is now also about trust in democracy; if MPs votes don't count, what's the point of ours.
ALAN KIRBY (Press Officer), Protect Our Wild Animals (POWA).
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