Hunting ban 'breaches rights'

The ban now faces a legal challenge

Countryside campaigners have announced plans to launch a court fight against a ban on fox hunting in Scotland.

The Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) said the proposed law was a clear breach of human rights and a legal challenge would begin.

The SCA said livelihoods would be wrecked by the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill, with no offer of compensation.

Campaigners say jobs are threatened

On Wednesday, a majority of Scottish parliamentarians (MSPs) voted in favour of outlawing hunting with hounds, effectively stamping out mounted fox hunts, hare coursing and fox baiting.

Pro-hunt campaigners promised a prompt legal challenge and, on Thursday morning, SCA Director, Allan Murray, said: " It is quite obscene that the Scottish Parliament voted their fellow Scots out of jobs, their homes and businesses last night without a penny of compensation.

"We believe this is a clear violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and have instructed our lawyers to take the appropriate legal action.

"Legal statements have been taken from several individuals who stand to have their lives ruined by this legislation. We believe this legislation is unfair, unjust and not compatible with the ECHR."

Parliamentary scrutiny

Mr Murray also warned that the planned legislation would be tested in Scotland's criminal courts because of "ambiguities" in measures on pest control.

Anti-hunt campaigners were jubilant when MSPs voted in favour of the new legislation, which has been subject to detailed parliamentary scrutiny.

Scotland is the first part of the UK to pass legislation designed to end fox hunting.

The new law still needs royal approval and then it is up to ministers to decide when it should be enforced.