UK pro-hunt protesters target minister

British rural affairs minister Alun Michael ran the gauntlet of pro-hunting demonstrators as he arrived for a conference in London today.

Mr Michael’s car was chased by around 20 protesters from the Countryside Alliance waving placards and blowing whistles.

The group also attempted to follow him into the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in Parliament Square.

The protests follow an incident last night, when Leader of the Commons Peter Hain was pelted with eggs during a speech at Oxford University Labour Club. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Speaking shortly after the attack, Mr Hain said: “If the hunters wish to persuade people of their case, it should be by the force of their arguments, not by physical violence and thuggery.”

The controversial issue has been highlighted following Tuesday’s House of Lords vote to allow regulation of hunting. Peers went on to approve a test of “utility and least suffering” for registered hunts last night.

The Lords’ amendments are now almost certain to be overturned when the Hunting Bill returns to the Commons, paving the way for the use of the Parliament Act to enforce the will of the lower House.

After the incident with Mr. Michael, a Countryside Alliance spokesman pointed out that the government-commissioned Burns Inquiry had established there were no welfare grounds on which to ban the sport, adding: “We want to get the message out to the ministers that we feel really strongly about this.”

“Basically about 80% of Britain doesn’t care one way or the other. So why not let the 20% who really do care about it get on with what they enjoy doing.”

A protester from London, who wanted to be known only as Hilary, described the ban as a “fascist” act made by an “appalling” Government.

Christopher Hall, from Petworth, West Sussex, said he did not hunt but believed in the right of the fox hunters.

“I think it’s absolutely wrong for a Government with an urban majority trying to impose its will on a whole decent lot of people.”

Last month, about 10,000 people marched on the Labour Party Conference in Brighton to voice their opposition to the ban.