Parliament: Hunting ban will infringe civil liberties, say Tories
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE GOVERNMENT was accused by Conservatives yesterday of "infringing civil liberties" with its promise to ban fox- hunting in the near future.
Douglas Hogg, the former Tory cabinet minister, led the attack when he claimed that Tony Blair's Government would "long be remembered as the Government that has released killers but has threatened with imprisonment those who have long supported the traditional country sport".
His fierce criticism was echoed by David Lidington, a Tory home affairs spokesman, who claimed Home Office ministers regarded the hunt ban as "the very last thing that they wanted dumped on their desks at this moment". He suggested Downing Street had raised the issue as a ploy to divert attention from what he claimed was a feud between Mr Blair and the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.
"You have been landed with this by the desperation of spin- doctors at Number 10, who are in a panic over how to distract media attention away from the public slanging match between the Prime Minister and his Deputy."
But George Howarth, a Home Office Minister, insisted the Government was "actively considering how to take this issue forward" with three options being discussed; presenting a special government Bill, supporting a private member's Bill or adding an amendment to one already going through Parliament.
Labour MPs will be given a free vote, as they were when the issue was last debated, Mr Howarth added. "At this stage, I have no particular position that we've adopted but in due course we will make our position quite clear."
But Michael Colvin, the Tory MP for Romsey, said ministers were being inconsistent by threatening to imprison "people who hunt vermin with hounds" while releasing "terrorists from prison".
Mr Howarth replied: "The Opposition supported the principles behind the Good Friday Agreement and for you to try to condense those two issues into one is frankly quite wrong."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments