The anti-hunting lobby scored a limited victory in the House of Commons yesterday as the Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill passed its first reading, backed by an overwhelming majority of 411 votes to 151.
There were extraordinary scenes outside the Commons after the news broke that the Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill had won a Second Reading by 411 votes to 151. Outside Parliament there was mayhem as anti-hunt campaigners cheered, chanted and revelled in their victory.
After five hours of robust debate in the Commons, a Downing Street spokesman ruled out any additional time for the Bill, effectively ruling out its chance of becoming law during this session. "We did promise a free vote," the spokesman said, "but no government time can be allocated."
However, hinting that there would be a chance to put anti-hunt legislation before the Commons in the future, the spokesman said: "We could not give any guarantees for the future, although that does not mean there would not be opportunities."
In a message of support to Labour MPs during his visit to Bosnia yesterday, the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, promised that the Bill would be open to "review for the future".
Mr Blair's words prompted the Labour MP, Mr Mike Foster, who proposed the Private Member's Bill, to deny that he had had any "cosy chats" with government officials. His job, he said, was to ensure hunting with dogs was banned and he claimed legislation could be brought in via an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill.
Opening the debate, Mr Foster told the Commons the Bill would "protect wild mammals from cruelty and from the unnecessary pain and suffering inflicted in the name of so-called sport." Claiming the overwhelming support of public opinion, Mr Foster denied that a ban on fox hunting would lead to job losses and he urged MPs to use their free vote to end an "unnecessary and cruel practice".
"How can we pass judgment on Pakistan, where they set dogs onto bears, or on Spanish bullfighting, when we in this country allow dogs to be set upon deer?" he asked.
Leading the attack for the Tories, the former deputy prime minister, Mr Michael Heseltine, himself a shooting and fishing enthusiast - but not a huntsman - said the Bill was part of "an agenda" to ban fishing, shooting and angling. Ignoring the hecklers on the Labour benches, Mr Heseltine stood his ground, saying the Bill contained a "streak of intolerance" and warning that the legislation would not save the life of a single animal.
Later a supporter of the Union of Country Sports Workers and Countryside Alliance accused MPs of supporting a "totally biased view" of fox hunting. Mr David Jukes, a professional huntsman, said people simply did not understand the issue.