MPs ban hunting with hounds

MP's have voted to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales after five hours of intense Commons debate.

But even though the bill was supported by a majority of more than two hundred, any law could still be some way off.

That's because the bill is likely to face stiff opposition once it reaches the House of Lords.

Outright Ban

And because the bill has turned into an outright ban of hunting - rather than a partial one - it has to be sent back to a Commons committee before it goes up to the House of Lords.

That means it will not make it to the Lords before the summer reccess. And will now be delayed until the Autumn.

However, anti-hunt MPs are confident that the Bill can still be forced through.

At 610

we spoke to Daisy Sampson, Breakfast's political analyser to find out how the bill turned into an outright ban and what will happen next. To see that interview click on the link above.

Daisy explained that the government had said that the bill would only be a vote about banning some hunts - but late yesterday it turned into a vote into an outright ban of all hunting with hounds.

The issue is, how hard are the Lords going to kick it when it comes back

Daisy Sampson, Breakfast's political analyst

But because of that change, the bill will now be further delayed.

But despite all the delays and the "ping-pong" between the Commons, the Committee and the Lords, Daisy feels that eventually, the government will have to allow the ban to go ahead - because of the size of the majority in the vote.

At 0710

we spoke to Simon Hart from the Countryside Alliance, who opposes the ban on hunting. To see that interview click on the link above.

He is against the ban and believes that the government should not enable it to become law.

To allow prejudice to prevail would be a constitutional scandal

Simon Hart, Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart believes that the government should stick to its original pledge, to allow some hunting under licence to continue.

And he feels that the MPs voting against the ban are prejudiced and are not looking at the animal welfare evidence.

Supporters of the vote included Tony Banks MP.

He said that the government had allowed backbenchers to have their say because it could not afford to pick too many arguments with backbenchers at the same time.