Don't scupper hunt Bill, peers are warned

Ministers have delivered a last-minute warning to peers not to scupper the hunting Bill when it returns to the House of Lords today.

The Bill receives its second reading in the Upper House this afternoon, kicking off what is expected to be a five-week constitutional clash between the Commons and the Lords.

Pro-hunt supporters in the Lords have made clear they will seek to amend the Bill rather than reject it outright.They want to see a licensing system, the socalled middle way.

But Rural Affairs minister Alun Michael warned that MPs were unlikely to accept a compromise. He said: "The

Commons has voted several times for a ban and it's that reality the House of Lords needs to address in considering how to suggest the Bill is amended."