Facebook group in support of Hunting Act repeal
A H&H forum member is trying to get 150,000 members on her Facebook page in support of repeal of the Hunting Act
Hunting Act
Following years of debate, and hundreds of hours of parliamentary debate, the Hunting Act 2004 became law on 18 February 2005.
Hunts throughout England and Wales have operated under the current restrictions of the Act for more than 10 years while hunting supporters and campaigners have continued in a quest to repeal the law.
On Wednesday, 15 July, MPs were going to get the opportunity to vote on proposals put forward under a Statutory Instrument (SI) to vary the terms of exempt hunting. The proposed amendments includes flushing to guns and removing the “two dog” limit. This would mean it would become legal to manage foxes and some other wild mammals using a pack of hounds. Under these proposals traditional hunting would remain illegal.
However, on Tuesday 14 July the vote was postponed after the SNP announced their MPs would vote against the amendment.
Road to the ban
In 1949, two private members bills failed in an attempt to make it onto the statute books however following that, there was no further proposals brought forward again until 1992, where another bill was rejected by the Commons.
Throughout the 1990s, various bills pass through Parliament, some being rejected by the Lords, others not making it past the first vote in the Commons.
On 1 March 1998, 250,000 hunting supporters congregated in Hyde Park, London, to protest against the private members bill that had been put forward by Michael Foster MP in November 1997.
A bill put forward by Labour MP Gordon Prentice in May 2000 won a majority vote of 179 in the Commons in February 2001 however the House of Lords voted against it and the bill ran out of time when the general election was called.
In February 2002, the Scottish Parliament banned hunting in Scotland when the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.
In September 2002, over 400,000 people joined the Liberty & Livelihood march in London to support the rural way of life however in December that year, Alun Michael — the rural affairs minister — announced the Hunting Bill which permitted foxhunting under a strict licensing system.
Further changes to the bill took place between July 2003 and October 2003 varying it between an outright ban and the licensing system.
In early September 2004 the government announced a plan for a free vote leading to an outright ban before the end of the parliamentary session in November, which got passed by MPs on 16 September.
Despite the Lords rejecting the bill, commons speaker Michael Martin invoked the Parliament Act to push the bill into law on 12 November 2004.
Various challenges and appeals against the law were put forward by pro-hunting campaigners before it came into force — including one in the High Court — however hunts started operated under the restrictions of the ban on 18 February 2005.
Useful links
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Percy hunting case collapses due to lack of evidence
A judge has thrown out a prosecution under the Hunting Act, saying the evidence was "thin".
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Conservatives pledge support for repeal of the Hunting Act
The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) gave a standing ovation to shadow foreign secretary William Hague MP after he pledged to assist repeal of the hunting ban
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Repeal only option for 'tattered' Hunting Act
Calls for the Hunting Act to be repealed are coming thick and fast following the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) decision to drop another high-profile action for unlawful hunting
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'A huge relief for hunting' — D&S Staghounds charges dropped
The Crown Prosecution has dropped its prosecution against three members of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds in the wake of the High Court ruling on exempt hunting
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Prosecution sensationally dropped against Heythrop huntsman
The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped the high-profile case against Julian Barnfield, who was accused of illegally hunting a fox on four seperate occasions
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Hunting Act 'fatally weakened' by decision not to appeal
The Countryside Alliance claims the Hunting Act has been left 'fatally weakened' by the DPP's decision not to appeal a High Court ruling
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High Court delivers landmark ruling: hunts are innocent until proven guilty
A landmark judgment delivered has been hailed as a 'nail in the coffin' for the Hunting Act
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Preparing for repeal of the Hunting Act
Message to the hunting community to prepare, but quietly
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Judges to thrash out Hunting Act confusion
Issues arising from the 2004 Hunting Act are discussed in the High Court
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'Hunting' to be defined by the High Court in December
The definition of “hunting” will be clarified by the High Court next month in a case that will set a precedent for legal activity under the Hunting Act
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Fox hunting case adjourned while film evidence is viewed
The case against Heythrop huntsman Julian Barnfield has been adjourned until 4 August
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Heythrop huntsman accused of illegal hunting
Julian Barnfield of the Heythrop hunt will face the first prosecution in the UK by police for allegedly killing a fox
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Third anniversary of Hunting Act: only three hunts convicted
On the third anniversary of the Hunting Act, the Countryside Alliance claims it has "failed to deliver anything for anyone" as hunting continues to enjoy strong support
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Minehead Harriers duo admit Hunting Act breach
Two staff from the Minehead Harriers admitted breaching the Hunting Act last year by allowing hounds to pursue a fox with mange
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British Government claims the Hunting Act is effective
The Government has responded to an e-petition calling for the repeal of the Hunting Act, saying it is satisfied that the law is effective
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Two-thirds of public believe Hunting Act is not a police priority
A new poll released by the Countryside Alliance says two in three people in Britain believe police should not spend any more time policing the Hunting Act
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Wait for Hunting Act appeal result
The Countryside Alliance will have to wait at least five weeks to learn the Law Lords’ reaction to a series of appeals against hunting law to the House of Lords
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Hunts determind to continue despite Quantock appeal failure
While the appeal of the Quantock Staghounds failed, the judgement does gives some clarity on the Hunting Act
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Quantock Staghounds duo still guilty of hunting offence
The first appeal against a hunting conviction is quashed, but we can still keep hunting says Countryside Alliance chief
