BRITAIN-POLITICS/FOX HUNTING British PM Cameron postpones fox hunting vote after opposition

Record ID: 147215

  • Title: BRITAIN-POLITICS/FOX HUNTING British PM Cameron postpones fox hunting vote after opposition
  • Date: 14th July 2015
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM ( JULY 14, 2015) (REUTERS) 1, VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS IN FOX MASKS, LEADING CHANTING OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT MASKED PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGN READING (English): '"KEEP THE HUNTING BAN" VARIOUS OF HUNT SABOTEURS AND MASKED PROTESTERS CHANTING
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACYCBQX8VWKFB41L1ZJV3H3WUE
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced on Tuesday (July 14) to postpone a controversial vote on relaxing a ban on fox hunting, after facing defeat at the hands of Scottish nationalists.
    The Scottish National Party (SNP) planned to use the vote as a warning that they should not be ignored.
    Cameron had hoped to pass measures on Wednesday to relax the ban on fox hunting, a centuries-old country pastime.
    The issue is extremely divisive in Britain, with supporters hailing it as an important rural tradition which helps pest control. But opponents say it is cruel and elitist.
    The SNP announced on Tuesday its 56 Westminster lawmakers would vote against the bill, which would guarantee its failure, even though the proposed changes would only affect England and Wales, and not Scotland.
    SNP had previously pledged not to get involved in laws which do not impact Scotland.
    SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted to send Cameron a message that he needed to show more respect to the wishes of Scottish lawmakers on other subjects, even though the fox hunting changes would not apply in Scotland.
    Sturgeon on Tuesday criticised Cameron for his handling of the vote.
    "That underlines that David Cameron is not master of all he surveys in the House of Commons. He's got a fragile majority and perhaps one of the benefits of this over the last couple of days is reminding him how fragile that majority is and if he's got any sense he will reflect on that," she said.
    Others have accused the SNP of playing politics by deciding to vote on a law that doesn't affect its constituencies.
    ''You could not get a better example of an Act that doesn't apply anywhere in Scotland. There is no Scottish angle here at all and yet they have reneged on that. They have done a 100 percent U-turn and she's done it for political reasons,'' said Jim Barrington of the Countryside Alliance, a pressure group which supports relaxing rules on fox hunting.
    Outside the Houses of Parliament, anti-hunt protesters chanted in support of the ban.
    Protesters wearing fox masks and costumes celebrated after hearing the vote had been postponed.
    Tom Quinn, Campaigns Director of the League Against Cruelty to Animals, praised the Scottish nationalists for their stance.
    ''It is not just about politics. The SNP have said that they recognise that the law in Scotland needs to be strengthened and it would be a step back to weaken the law in England and Wales. So, they have resolved to support those MPs from across all parties that are against hunting,'' he said.
    Fox hunting was banned across Britain in 2004 but laws are stricter in England and Wales than they are in Scotland.
    The controversial sport involves hounds chasing foxes before attacking and eventually killing the animal, while hunters follow on horseback.
    In England and Wales, two dogs can be used to flush out a fox from a hiding place so that the animal can be shot, as a way of controlling vermin rather than as a form of sport.
    In Scotland, there is currently no limit placed on the number of hounds that can be used.
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