To think Cameron ducked his own vote on foxhunting due to fear of losing?

[fortyfide]

Toff Cameron wanted the vote, why did he chicken out of it? They say he thought he would lose. Why worry?

A vast majority of people in Britain loathe the thought groups of hunters in fancy dress like hounding a small animal to its death.

DoraGora I just found the car crash tragedy really shocking. It happened in one of the busiest parts of the central Belt, and I'm pretty appalled that the First Minister isn't taking more responsibility for it. Since the unitary police authority was an SNP policy and was pretty unpopular with the rank and file, who as usual in Scotland, were ignored. Many long term admin officers have simply left, so I think the tragedy lies firmly at their door.

But its not a headline grabbing vote-winner (neither is sorting out City of Edinburgh Council), so typically the SNP response is to try and control even more people's lives, because that's what the SNP do.

Understood, dadfromuncle.

Agree with a pp who's concerned about strong government too. I not vote Tory, but it really worries me that this administration is going to be so vulnerable to even a small backbench rebellion. It's not good for anyone for some of Cameron's more extreme backbenchers to potentially have that level of influence. Actually in this instance it's the centrist urban types, the ones who got voted for by the sort of people who voted Labour for the first time in 97, who might be the trouble, but generally I suspect it'll be the hardliners.

queenofwesteros I think it's worth pointing out that the current Scottish hunting law will be under review with a view to tightening this (if not already). And I live in rural East Scotland, there's certainly no rampant foxhunting here TheChandler I'd still rather they were shot than torn to shreds by a pack of dogs.

Have you never heard of the Fife Hunt then? Its a massive organisation and organises lots of community based activities, including the annual agricultural show. Perhaps you are not in Fife, but if you live rurally and are unaware of your local hunt, then you must live north of Fife, because there are also many thriving hunts in the Borders.

Democracy isn't about strong government. That's why, historically, so many philosophers and theorists have been so opposed to it. That's also, why we don't have any of it. We have democratically inspired fuckups, instead.

Not sure what point you're making here Dora?

Democracy is one of the fastest routes to weak governments, civil war is good at producing them, too.

As I see it this has massively backfired on the SNP. We sll know that the revision to the fox hunting law was to bring it to the exact same law as in Scotland. The SNP were going to block vote with labour just to show "look we can stop you making laws". If they gave a monkeys aboutthe fox hunting law in Scotland as they keep saying they have 58 out of 59 seats in Scotland and have the power to change the law up there (Scottish votes for Scottish laws). What they have succeeded in doing is show everyone how petty they are snd how much EVEL is needed and it will probably now happen. They didn't even wait for a tory whip vote it was a free vote anyway.

Jings, you'd think they were all politicians or something. Apart from the poor foxes obviously.

Now I can't help but think he knew this would create more anti-SNP hysteria to detract from the budget and current talk of considering paying into a sort of savings fund instead of receiving sick pay (and so on). Although I do think it was partly done to push EVEL through.
Either way, I think he knew that he would lose, but I'm glad it hasn't gone through.

I don't understand on what conceivable basis Cameron thought it was necessary to bring in this provision. It cannot conceivably be a sensible use of Parliamentary time; if anything, it is Scottish law which needs to be brought into line with English law on this, not the other way round - a fact which, as I understand it, is accepted by the SNP with the relevant Scottish authorities currently looking at a change in the hunting laws.

If Cameron wants to bring back hunting, I don't understand why he doesn't do it all in one Bill rather than trying to tinker round the edges with pointless provisions like this one. Or maybe I do - maybe he knows full well that a full Bill would be defeated and he is rather pathetically trying to slip a partial provision through in the forlorn hope that that will appease the hunt vote.

Can't help but admire the man's logic, though. Won't allow supporters of grammar schools a voice, on the grounds that their views are divisive, but allows a free vote on fox hunting. My mum has a similarly rational system.