-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Roots [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Dear Trade Member
14th June 2000
An update on the situation in England and Wales from the
Countryside Alliance, from Richard Burge, Chief Executive:
"Beating the backbenchers"
Yesterday's announcement by the Government that they will
introduce their own "hunting options bill", has been
understandably greeted with surprise and consternation by the
many thousands of people who could be hurt by it.
But whilst we must give the Government a chance to prove that,
supported by the Burns Inquiry report, it will take the rights of
a minority seriously, we have ample evidence that its
backbenchers have no intention of allowing themselves to be
informed by the facts or by the proper consideration of the
report.
As a direct consequence the Countryside Alliance Board which met
today, has laid out new plans which will ensure that proposals in
a "hunting options bill" will never result in a ban becoming
law.
As of now a sustained and escalating campaign of action begins.
It will be relentless, implacable and prolonged. It will be local
and national targeted, not only on the media but on all members
of Parliament now looking towards re-election.
It will lead up to and beyond the biggest peace time march that
London has ever seen.
Supporters, individuals or groups, are asked to stand by. A "call
to arms" may be at short notice. It may require travel and it
will certainly require dedication and commitment.
We must not disclose the timescale or date. We will leave that
choice up to the Government. If MPs with closed minds don't want
it, they know what they have to do.
This will be a long process, but two key elements of our battle
are contained in comments made by Alliance Chairman John Jackson
yesterday. "There is a difference between the Government and
backbenchers. The Government has indicated through Jack Straw
himself that it is neutral on the hunting issue. Our battle is to
persuade Government Ministers and the Prime Minister himself to
stand up against the illiberal attitudes and authoritarian
prejudices of many of his backbenchers."
On the contents of the Burns report itself, a complicated and
detailed piece of work, he said "nobody's personal freedom can or
should be overthrown on the basis of anything in the content and
conclusions of the Burns report. In particular the report makes
plain that hunting with dogs is no less humane than any of the
other methods of control."
The executive team set up within Alliance headquarters to put
these plans into immediate operation is led by Sam Butler, who is
backed by the machinery of the Alliance both nationally and
regionally, along with the wholehearted support of the Board.
*********************************************************
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