Hunting ban imperils Labour programme

Published on 17/08/2004 02:42

LABOUR’S pre-election programme could be disrupted by a bid to force through a fox-hunting ban.

Senior Conservatives have told ministers the expected final session of parliament could be delayed until December if they press ahead with their plan to send the controversial Hunting Bill to the Lords in October.

If the bill went ahead, it would be made law under the Parliament Act a month later.

The Tories’ leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde, is reported to have warned that peers would demand a line-by-line examination of the bill during the 30 days that it had to be before the House.

However, it is feared such a move would spark a log jam of other bills ministers are anxious to steer on to the statute book.

Ministers are reported to be planning for the state opening of parliament during the third week in November.

Yet the new session could be cut short next spring if an election is held in May 2005.

Lord Strathclyde said the government would "reap the consequences" if it went ahead with the fox-hunting ban.

Most Labour MPs believe the bill will be rushed through the Commons in September before the parliamentary session ends in November.