by Stuart Millar
05 Jul 03
Hunt supporters are planning a campaign of public harassment of government ministers whenever they make an appearance anywhere in the country, as part of a desperate rearguard action to head off a total ban on hunting.
Amid a growing clamour among furious grassroots hunt supporters for more militant direct action, the Guardian has learned that the Countryside Alliance is setting up a full-time unit with the task of organising the 'hounding of ministers'.
The unit will have responsibility for obtaining information on the whereabouts of government figures and deploying instant protests. Using teams of activists across the country, the unit will aim to organise demonstrations with as little as 10 minutes notice.
The main target will be Alun Michael, the rural affairs minister, whose carefully crafted compromise allowing licensed hunts was scuppered on Monday night when more than 300 Labour MPs, including seven Cabinet members, ignored Downing Street to vote in favour of an outright ban. Also in their sights is Elliot Morley, who voted with the rebels despite being number two in the environment department, which is piloting the bill. [The Guardian/UK]
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