UK MPs vote for ban on fox-hunting

MPs in England voted overwhelmingly this evening for a total ban on fox-hunting with dogs in England and Wales.

In a free vote, the House of Commons rejected a Government plan which would have allowed some fox-hunting under licence while banning stag-hunting and hare-coursing. Instead they backed an outright ban by 362 to 154, a majority of 208.

The vote, which came after five and a half hours of stormy debate, was met by noisy jeers and cheers from pro- and anti-hunting demonstrators in Parliament Square.

It followed a last-minute turn-around by environment minister Alun Michael, who withdrew a proposed amendment to the Hunting Bill which opponents feared might prevent any vote on a complete ban.

Doubts were immediately raised over whether the bill will now become law during this Parliament, as Mr Michael said it would have to be sent to a Commons committee for procedural work to incorporate the complete ban.

This will mean it missing its timetabled slot for debate in the House of Lords next month.

It will also almost certainly mean a bill that could not be forced through the Lords against the wishes of hostile peers, because it had changed fundamentally in the way it was first presented to MPs.

Mr Michael warned MPs tonight that it would be “extremely difficult” with an amended bill to invoke the Parliament Act, the device usually used to ignore the wishes of the Lords.