Meeting Sunday 5th December
2004
 The
first of two challenges to the validity of the Hunting Act has been officially
put into motion by the Countryside Alliance.
The first challenge to the Hunting Act is to be launched as an application
for a Judicial Review is lodged at the High Courts of Justice.
It is based on what the Countryside Alliance (CA) says is the questionable
validity of the Parliament Act as it was passed in 1949. Amending the
Act back then, MPs decided that the Lords should have less chances to
consider legislation on which both houses could not agree. The problem
is that this Act was never passed by the Lords.
The challenge is in the names of John Jackson, Patrick Martin and Mair
Hughes. Sir Sidney Kentridge QC is leading the case on behalf of the CA.
A second legal challenge to the Hunting Act will claim that the Act contravenes
human rights legislation because the absence of compensation provision
in the Act fails to account for loss of a way of life. So found the Joint
Committee on Human Rights, and this issue was also brought up in the Burns
Report.
Both challenges are going to be subjects for debate at the highest level
for months, and in the meantime, the hunting community is determined to
continue to go about its business. Any arrests made for illegal hunting
as these challenges are underway will probably see prosecution deferred,
awaiting the outcome of the challenges.
The Countryside Alliance is confident that the Judiciary will find in
their favour, and the House of Lords is the highest court in the land.
Simon Hart yesterday stressed that this was not the end of the fight,
but only the beginning of the second stage.
Any Association members interested
in Media/TV work contact Nicky Driver at the Countryside Alliance for
training.
A second meeting is being organised, date to be
confirmed.
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