Only 22 Weeks To Even The Score, Tony

Anti-hunt campaigners today urged the Prime Minister to take action to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales following the historic success of the hunting bill in Scotland.

Last night Scottish MSPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of introducing a ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland. As a result, Tony Banks MP (Labour), Ann Widdecombe (Conservative) and Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) today sent a joint message to the PM urging him to honour the British Government's pledge to hold a free vote on hunting in England and Wales in this session of Parliament.

The message read:

"Scotland 1, England 0 -- Come on Mr Blair, even the score"

The call to "even the score" comes as a new MORI poll commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the League Against Cruel Sports shows that a significant 72% of the British public think that fox hunting should be illegal. An overwhelming 80% think deer hunting should be illegal and 81% believe hare coursing should be outlawed. It also coincides with the launch of a powerful new RSPCA microsite and online advertising campaign which urges the public to press the PM and their MP for action.

Phyllis Campbell-McRae, spokesman for Campaigning to Protect Hunted Animals, said: "Now that Scotland has voted to ban these cruel and unnecessary sports, it's imperative that the Westminster Government acts to honour its own commitments, enabling parliament to resolve the hunting issue in this session. Failure to act would result in the ridiculous situation of banned Scottish hunters crossing the border to carry out their barbaric activities in England and Wales."

Around two thirds of Westminster MPs voted in favour of a ban on hunting with dogs when the Government introduced the Hunting Bill in December 2000. The bill failed when the House of Lords rejected proposals for a ban and it ran out of time.

"The Government should reintroduce the Hunting Bill as soon as possible and, this time, they should ensure that the will of Parliament is reflected in legislation," added Phyllis Campbell-McRae. "It's time for Tony Blair to deliver on his promises."

Technical details

MORI interviewed a nationally representative quota sample of 1,013 adults aged 16+ by telephone between 18-20 January 2002. Data were weighted to reflect the known population profile.

Legal opinion sought by CPHA states that, provided that the same Hunting Bill is returned to the House of Lords by the House of Commons at least one month before the end of the current session, the Bill can become law under the terms of the Parliament Act. A failure by the Government to act in the current session would result in the Government having to begin the whole process afresh, and would take at least two Parliamentary sessions to complete.

To view the RSPCA microsite go to www.rspca.org.uk/banhunting