'This is not a step that anyone will be taking lightly, but many people feel that it is a legitimate act of protest in response to the threat of deeply prejudiced legislation.'
Six years after Labour first won office on a manifesto commitment to ban hunting with dogs, the House of Lords faces a bitter winter as partisans dig in on both sides. Pro-hunters are backed by peers who take a libertarian view on other people's recreational habits.
The controversial Hunting Bill began its passage through Parliament last year and initially banned only hare-coursing and stag-hunting while allowing strictly regulated fox-hunting. Prime Minister Tony Blair supported this compromise solution.
But MPs voted by 362 to 154 for an outright ban, placing them on collision course with the Lords, who are expected to embarrass ministers by reinstating the licensing compromise.
That would leave Mr Blair with the choice of backing down or using the Parliament Acts to overrule the Lords.
Public opinion is against hunting, but prohunters say they will fight a law which is unjust, unenforceable and cruel to animals.
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