Despite the fact that the government had a compromise option in reserve, providing for strict licensing of this kind of recreation, the ruling Labour Party insisted on a complete ban. Unfortunately, the government's compromise decision was not put before parliamentarians, so the House of Commons had to vote for radical measures. As a result, the law was passed with 362 votes in favor and 154 against.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that England will now be without handsome riders in red coats, with horns and dogs. The law still has to pass the House of Lords. Apparently, the new measures will meet fierce resistance in the upper house of the British Parliament. Two years ago, the Lords already rejected a similar initiative. Now, however, after the reform of the upper house, when the share of hereditary lords there has sharply decreased, and its other members are not very familiar with this pastime, the adoption of the law seems quite realistic.
In 2001, Tony Blair's politically correct government had already introduced a one-year ban on hunting. This decision caused a storm of protest in British society. Everyone took to the streets: both supporters and opponents. Supporters, oddly enough, turned out to be more numerous - about 400,000 people.
The fact is that fox hunting today is not just entertainment, but a whole industry. Breeders raise special hounds, ateliers sew special hunting costumes. Even buttons for the huntsmen's red frock coats are specially minted. This sport also feeds many rural residents. The season begins in November and ends in April. During this time, village huntsmen and breeders of horses and dogs earn their living for the next six months. Now many villages that host hunters will be empty. Incidentally, it is not only people who will lose their jobs. The famous Berwickshire hounds, if the law is passed by the House of Lords, will be unemployed for the first time in 400 years. Under the new law, they will not be allowed to be released into the field even for training, since the dogs might accidentally disturb a fox that has let its guard down.
The traditional pastime of high society of Foggy Albion traces its history back to the end of the 15th century. Passionate hunters included the monarchs Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth, and Richard Cromwell. The Duke of Wellington was also not averse to going out hunting in good company. By the way, it was he who invented the special boots for fox hunting, which the English still call 'Wellington boots'. This kind of entertainment became especially popular before the First World War. Later, the favorite sport of the British aristocracy faced a host of problems, from the fragmentation of land plots to increasingly active protests by the 'greens'. But despite this, they continued to hunt in the United Kingdom. Among the supporters of hunting leisure now are the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, his son Prince William, Camilla Parker-Bowles and many other representatives of high society.
It is noteworthy that fox hunting does not cause significant harm to the population of these animals in the United Kingdom. Since the early 1980s, their number has remained unchanged and stands at 250,000 animals.