Scotland outlaws fox hunting

Associated Press

EDINBURGH, Scotland — The Scottish Parliament voted Wednesday to outlaw fox hunting with dogs north of the border with England — an issue just as hotly debated in England, where legislation has been delayed.

After more than six hours of debate, Scottish legislators voted 83 to 36, with five abstentions, to pass the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill, which will bring an end to a centuries-old tradition.

Fox hunters had staged a series of last-ditch demonstrations Wednesday in the hours before the vote. Up to 1,000 people, 150 horses and packs of hounds from all over Scotland gathered at Kelso, on the Scottish side of the border with England, to stage a mass hunt.

"It’s what we’ve campaigned for over many years," said Mike Hobday of the League Against Cruel Sports. "It’s long been clear that the majority of people right across Britain are opposed to fox hunting and we’re absolutely delighted that the Scottish Parliament has been the first one to take this step.

"It gives a very clear signal to Tony Blair and the government that where Scotland leads, England should follow," Hobday said.

The law will take effect next month after it receives expected approval from Queen Elizabeth II.

Members of the hunting community feared their jobs were threatened by passage of the bill, which makes it an offense to use dogs to hunt wild mammals, effectively ruling out mounted fox hunting and some other activities such as hare coursing.

It carries a penalty of heavy fines or a six-month prison term.

The legislators also rejected three amendments proposing compensation packages for those who will lose their jobs as a result of the law.

Pro-hunting campaigners in England predicted chaos as a result of the Scottish ban because the border is not clearly policed.

The alliance’s director, Allan Murray, vowed to "fight in every court in the land" to have the legislation overturned.

"Today, rural Scotland has been betrayed by the Scottish Parliament," he said. "Our politicians have made it clear that the voice of rural people, in their view, counts for nothing."

Scotland has long had a separate legal system from England and Wales. Scotland’s devolved parliament handles decisions on health, law and order, crime and transport, which were once debated in London.

Associated Press