25/01/2005

Pro-hunt group mount court challenge to ban

The Countryside Alliance will continue their fight against the government's anti-hunting ban in the High Court today.

The pro-hunt group will challenge the legal validity of the Parliament Act 1949, which was used by the House of Commons to force through the anti-hunting bill, over-ruling the House of Lords, which has objected to the bill.

Countryside Alliance Chairman, John Jackson, accused the House of Commons of "exceeding its powers unlawfully" and said: "This case has little to do with hunting and much to do with the constitutional arrangements in our country and respect for the law. We are asking the High Court to rule that the Parliament Act of 1949, which was used to impose the Hunting Act, is invalid and cannot be used to be impose anything."

If the Countryside Alliance succeed in gaining an injunction against the hunting ban, it would mean that it could not come into force before an appeal is heard in the House of Lords. The ban is due to come into effect on February 18.

Anti-hunt campaigners, the League Against Cruel Sports, will also be in the High Court today, to oppose the Countryside Alliance's proposed injunction.

The government, confident that the case will fail, has not opposed the pro-hunt campaigners' attempts to gain an injunction, a move that has attracted strong criticism from the League Against Cruel Sports, who accused them of trying to avoid potential public disorder by pro-hunt groups in the run-up to the general election, which is expected to be held in May.

The case is due be heard in the Lord Chief Justice's court this morning. Hearings are expected to finish tomorrow and a judgement is expected by January 28.

(KMcA/SP)

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