Pro-hunt campaigners return to Lords (From Worcester News)

Pro-hunt campaigners return to Lords

5:32pm Wednesday 10th October 2007 in News By Lauren Rogers, @laurenrogersWN #WENews

THE ban on fox hunting with dogs has today been labelled a violation of human rights.

Pro-hunt campaigners returned to the House of Lords, claiming that the 2004 Hunting Act was having a devastating impact on the economy of rural communities like Worcestershire.

Two years ago, the Lords rejected an appeal in which the pro-hunt lobby claimed that the parliament act, used to force through the Hunting Act, was unconstitutional.

Campaigners are now asking Lords Bingham, Hope, Rodger and Brown and Baroness Hale to overrule the Court of Appeal judgment.

However this afternoon, MP for Worcester Mike Foster - who, in 1997, published a Private Member's Bill to ban hunting with dogs - said it was time people learnt to live with the new law.

He said: "I despair at times with this argument.

"The campaigners say that the rural economy will come to a grinding halt without hunting. I've not noticed any impact on the employment in rural areas since the ban came into force.

"It's time to move on, to live with the change and get on with our lives."

The Countryside Alliance, along with various individuals, say that the Act - which prohibits fox hunting, deer hunting and hare coursing with dogs in England and Wales - should be declared unlawful.

The hearing is set to last until Wednesday.