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Defending country traditions

Hunt Supporters Rally to Defend "Rural Economy"

An estimated 100,000 people gathered in London's Hyde Park to protest against a proposed ban on hunting with dogs. Opponents of the ban say it threatens the rural way of life and could destroy thousands of jobs.

Hunt
Hunt's days could be numbered
The huge crowd heard speeches from representatives of all sectors of rural life. They included the leader of the opposition Conservative Party, William Hague, and the former liberal leader, Lord Steel. Also present was the environmentalist, David Bellamy, and the actor, Jeremy Irons, who said Britain's "green and pleasant land" was "under grave threat."

The focus of the protest is a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Michael Foster, Labour MP for Worcester. It goes before Parliament in the autumn. Speakers at the rally said that if the Bill succeeded -- voted in by what were described as ill-informed politicians -- it would damage the countryside beyond repair.

Among those who say their jobs will disappear if a ban is introduced are gamekeepers, kennel maids and blacksmiths.

Foster
Michael Foster: Fox hunting "akin to bear-baiting"
 
RealAudio
Foster claims overwhelming support for ban

Mr Foster accused his opponents of trying to turn the issue into a town-versus-country row instead of a simple moral question about cruelty against animals. He called hunting with dogs "a cruel and barbaric practice" which should be ended, and said it was comparable to cock-fighting, bear-baiting and dog-fighting.

A delegation set off from Hyde Park to Downing Strret to take a message to the Prime Minister, to try to make him change his mind and vote against the Bill. Mr Blair has already made it clear that he will vote in favour of a ban. He has, though, agreed that MPs will have a free vote on the issue.

Labour's enormous majority in the House means the measure is almost certain to become law. But Mr Blair described claims that fishing and shooting were next on the list to be proscribed as "absolute nonsense".

The Bill is likely to face fierce opposition - mainly from hereditary landowning Tory peers - when it reaches the Lords.

Tory critics accuse the Labour Government of favouring town over countryside because more Labour MPs represent urban constituencies. The former Tory environment minister Tony Baldry said it was a case of "the urban-based Labour Party seeking to impose urban values on the countryside".

Hanbruy-Tennison
Robin Hanbury-Tennison: Hunt is necessary and selective
Robin Hanbury-Tennison of the British Field Sports Society says that hunting with hounds is the only selective way to control foxes; unlike other methods this kind of hunt kills only weak, old and sick animals. And it is this traditional way of hunting which ensures that Britain's fox population is as healthy as it is.

Pro-hunting supporters say more than 4.2 million people took part in rural sports in 1996. About 3.3 million went fishing, 704,500 shot game and wildfowl and 215,500 hunted or followed hounds. This, they claim, made a very substantial contribution to the economy of the countryside and more than 25,000 manufacturers, processors, wholesalers and retailers were associated with country sports last year.

The BBC's Political Correspondent, Anne Perkins, looks at how the row over hunting could affect Tony Blair's relationship with the House of Lords
Dur: 2'35"

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