Blair warned of hunt backlash (From Warrington Guardian)

Blair warned of hunt backlash

TONY Blair will not escape a backlash from huntsmen even though he has refused to fight legal challenges that will delay the Commons ban.

Joint master Richard de Prez said members of the Cheshire Forest Hunt would still campaign against Labour candidates standing in the county.

"We will still campaign against them because we want a change in Government," he said.

"Mr Blair thinks this will take the heat out of a May election, but if it is called we will still be out there because we want a Government that will repeal this law."

The ban is due to take effect on February 18, but the Countryside Alliance has mounted legal challenges that are likely to delay it.

If it goes ahead, foxhunts across Britain are expected to meet at the same time to expose how difficult it will be for police to enforce.

Downing Street has said that it will not fight any injunction to delay the ban.

Cancelled

However, Mr de Prez said ministers would still be punished for invoking the rarely used Parliament Act to force through the legislation.

Nationally 300,000 attended Boxing Day hunts in a show of defiance to Labour.

But the Cheshire Forest Hunt had to call off their biggest meet of the year because the ground was too icy.

It was the first time in four years that their Boxing Day hunt had to be cancelled.

"It was very disappointing because hundreds turned out to see us," said Mr de Prez.

"It was not Blair's ban that stopped us; it was the weather."

Huntsmen did, however, mark the death of one of their supporters Belinda Mosley-Leigh, who died on Christmas Eve, with a minute's silence.

More than 160 riders joined the children's meet at the kennels in Over Peover.

Some as young as four saddled up and were led round by their parents.

"It demonstrated that the sport is growing because we had more people attending the meets this year than ever," he said.

"I hope this is because of what the Government is trying to do."