Lords to vote on Hunting Bill

26 March 2001



Lords to vote on Hunting Bill

By FWi staff

THE House of Lords is expected to place titself on collision course with the Commons in its first vote on the Governments controversial Hunting Bill.

Peers will vote on each of three options for the future of fox hunting on Monday (26 March) afternoon.

These iare an outright ban; a “middle way” system of self-regulation; and a strict licensing scheme.

Peers are thought unlikely to vote for a total ban.

The Middle Way group, which favours licensing, said it would be “absolute madness” for peers to reject this compromise option

The Bill has been overshadowed by the foot-and-mouth crisis, and has no chance of becoming law if Tony Blair calls a May general election.

Labour peer Baroness Mallalieu, who is president of the Countryside Alliance, said it was “crazy” that parliament was wasting time on debating a ban.

She told BBC News: “In the context of what is going on in the country at the moment this is a total waste of parliamentary time.”

• Labour to force hunt bill through, FWi, 20 December, 2000
• Labour peers to rebel over hunt?, FWi, 12 November, 1999