Pro-hunt lobby: Ban is crisis for constitution

The Government's proposed hunting ban is the most important constitutional crisis to be decided in the High Court, hunt supporters said today.

The Countryside Alliance (CA) launched its legal bid to block the Hunting Act by claiming MPs had acted illegally in passing the Bill.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC is due in court to defend the Act and a judgment is expected on Friday.

CA chairman John Jackson said outside court that the hearing had "little to do with hunting and a great deal to do with the constitution of our country".

The CA is challenging the way the ban was forced through Parliament without the consent of the House of Lords, using the 1949 Parliament Act. "We are asking the High Court to rule that the 1949 Parliament Act is itself invalid," said Mr Jackson.

"We believe that in 1949 the House of Commons acted completely unlawfully when it extended its own powers."

The CA is also challenging the ban on the grounds that it interferes with rights under the European Convention for respect for private life, freedom of assembly and peaceful enjoyment of possessions.

The League Against Cruel Sports is also represented in court. If the CA loses it plans an immediate appeal and if that fails will consider taking out an injunction before 18 February when the ban on hunting with dogs is due to come into force.

The case continues.