UK Hunting Bill
NEWS
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This page was last updated on Monday, August 20, 2007
On Monday, 30 June, the UK House of Commons voted 362 to 154 to approve an amendment banning all forms of hunting with dogs (sic) in England and Wales.
The vote for an outright ban implied a rejection of the government's proposal which permitted hunting in very limited circumstances. countryside ireland is dismayed but not surprised at the Commons' vote and believes that the government proposals were so stringent that they would have resulted in an end to hunting in its present form anyway.
We share the opinion of the UK Countryside Alliance and many other observers that the vote was based more on ignorance and class prejudice than on any sincere animal welfare concerns.
What remains to be seen is whether or not the UK government will use the Parliament Act to force the proposed legislation through the House of Lords. One thing is certain: it's going to be a busy summer for our hunting friends in the UK.
Countryside Ireland will continue to monitor the situation and offer our support to the UK hunting community where practicable.