House of Lords in 'last-chance saloon' over hunting bill

PEERS were warned yesterday that they were in "the last-chance saloon" over the bill banning hunting with hounds in England.

Lord Whitty, the environment minister, issued a tough message in the House of Lords at the opening of the second reading debate of the Hunting Bill, which will outlaw the sport.

He cautioned against confrontation with MPs who have overwhelmingly backed a ban, instead urging pro-hunting peers to seek a way forward out of the row that has rumbled on through Westminster since Labour came to power seven years ago. More than 50 peers were scheduled to speak in the debate, although a vote was not expected.

Police were on duty outside the entrance to the public galleries after last month’s rowdy demonstration inside and outside the House of Commons, which rushed through the bill in one day.

Lord Whitty told peers that he wanted to reinforce the view of Alun Michael, the rural affairs minister, who called on the Lords to engage seriously on the bill.

"I want to ask all peers to take proper note of the very clearly expressed views of the House of Commons," he said.

"Your lordships need to reflect that we are now in the last-chance saloon. The ball is in the court, in this house, of those who have supported hunting in its present form, to offer a way forward, or alternatively to accept the bill as it now stands if we are not to provoke the use of the Parliament Act."

For the Tories, Lady Byford said the Parliament Act should be used only to put laws on the statute book in cases of national emergency. She warned that if the bill was rammed through "it will bring division within communities".