A CHAMPION for the rural way of life has announced its intention to fight a proposal to ban hunting with dogs by turning to the House of Lords and the courts. The surprise decision by Labour MPs to reject a Government compromise allowing restricted hunting in favour of an outright ban has caused pro-hunters to muster their forces ready for a battle. Now leaders of the Countryside Alliance will try to persuade the House of Lords that the Hunting Bill should be based on regulation covering all forms of hunting with dogs based on evidence and proper definitions of utility and least suffering. The Alliance is likely to get a sympathetic hearing from the Lords who have traditionally been in favour of hunting and are expected to reject their parliamentary colleagues' proposal. However, the elected chamber of the House of Commons would ultimately gets its way under the rarely-used Parliament Act. If that looked likely to occur, the Alliance says it will challenge the projected use of the Parliament Act in the courts. Alliance regional director for the North West Tom Fell said: 'This campaign will reflect the determination of decent people never to submit to unjust laws. We will campaign for everyone in our society who values freedom, fairness and the proper working of democracy.' Winsford and Northwich MP Stephen O'Brien opposed the proposal for an outright ban on hunting and is furious that the Government, which had suggested a compromise solution, backed off in the end to appease its backbenchers. He told the Chronicle: 'Tony Blair has made a pretence of proposing a regulated hunt but then withdrawn it to buy the support of his back-benchers in time for the debate about Foundation hospitals. 'This will be deeply damaging to the rural economy and the interests of my constituents.' But Northwich MP Mike Hall said: 'I am delighted the Hunting Bill has now been approved by an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons. 'I voted to ban hare coursing and hunting deer, fox and mink with dogs because this is a very cruel activity and it has no place in a society that calls itself civilised. I have campaigned for many years for such a ban and I am very pleased that we have managed to get this measure through the House of Commons. 'I sincerely hope the House of Lords does not block this bill and try and frustrate the will of the House of Commons.' | 
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