Article

2004-11-19 Britain

Britain Outlaws Fox Hunting Over Protest

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Posted by Fred 2004-11-19 1:18:59 AM|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Blair's chance of a repeat election just went down the drain.

Look for the UK to cut and run in Iraq if he goes down.

This is a stupid move that wasn't even an issue that needed to be dealt with. Wait for the pictures of piles of dead hunting dogs to hit the papers to hear the animal rights activists scream some more. Of course the Countyside Alliance could take up hunting amimal rights activists and labor back benchers with hounds and horses.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-11-19 1:42:35 AM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2004-11-19 1:42:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Blair's chance of a repeat election just went down the drain.

Nope. It's ironic that Blair's now squirming over fox hunting and trying to get any ban stalled till 2006, when he's got the promised law to thank partly for his own success. Banning fox hunting was his token 'class war' gesture meant to reassure doubting traditional Labour voters that he really was, at heart, one of them. Most people acknowledge that the issue has got little or nothing to do with animal welfare (after all, it's true that statistically not one single fox's life is going to be saved by banning hunting with hounds) - it's all about bashing what's regarded as a toffs' game. Those affected by the ban - almost exclusively rural people - do not vote Labour. Battles in the countryside are usually between the Tories and the Lib Dems, and usually won by the Tories.

Look for the UK to cut and run in Iraq if he goes down.

Nope. Only in the event of a Lib Dem win, which is exceedingly unlikely. A Tory Government would probably be as steadfast as Labour, and possibly stronger, having less dissent in the ranks. Ignore the publicised spat between Bush and Michael Howard - Howard may be highly critical of Blair, but that's the character of British politics. Howard's predecessor was almost fawningly admiring of Blair's Iraq stance, so much so that it reflected badly on him, making the Lib Dems look like the more robust opposition party. The Tories may be trying to score points in litlle battles with Blair, but that doesn't mean they don't believe in the war itself.

This is a stupid move that wasn't even an issue that needed to be dealt with.

That's correct, only Blair's made it an issue that needs to be dealt with. You can look at it as Blair's pact with the Devil, if you like. He dangled hunting over the core Labour constituency like a fox over a pack of hounds. He's toyed with the issue for a long time, but if the hounds don't get what they were promised, they'll go for their master instead.

Posted by Bulldog 2004-11-19 4:19:03 AM|| 2004-11-19 4:19:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I'll start believing in the Tories when they start hitting Blair from the right on the next battle -- Iran.

Posted by someone 2004-11-19 6:52:56 AM|| 2004-11-19 6:52:56 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Does this mean no more riding outfits? Not that I care, I scorn such links has were forced upon us yesterday.

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-19 1:52:01 PM|| 2004-11-19 1:52:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Like I said! I scorn them! And sneer! Just say no to tight fitting jodspurs!

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-19 2:22:32 PM|| 2004-11-19 2:22:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Yoicks!

Posted by Seafarious 2004-11-19 2:35:35 PM|| 2004-11-19 2:35:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I will not be back to this thread again! Unless I need to! The tightly clad whippers in will tell me what course to take.

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-19 3:50:18 PM|| 2004-11-19 3:50:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 So tell us Ship, did you have a English nanny when you were a child who believed in strict "discipline"?

Posted by Steve 2004-11-19 4:41:18 PM|| 2004-11-19 4:41:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 I favour fox hunting if the fox can get away to laugh at the hounds another day.

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-11-19 11:43:27 PM|| 2004-11-19 11:43:27 PM|| Front Page Top

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