I knew I couldn't trust 'em as far as I could throw 'em.......
- Thread starter arlosmum
- Start date
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
Surely the hunting lobby are relieved that a vote has been abandoned. As its extremely unlikely they'd win the vote, they'd scupper their chances of repeal in the future.
Public opinion remains firmly against a repeal.
As for trusting Cameron, well, not many do.
Public opinion remains firmly against a repeal.
As for trusting Cameron, well, not many do.
Countryman
Well-Known Member
Let us be clear. The Conservative Party promised a Free Vote on repeal if they were elected. This would have in effect been a Repeal, because the vast majority of Conservative MPs do support Repeal.
HOWEVER as we are all aware, the Conservatives were not elected. Instead, they have to share power with the Lib Dems in coalition. Without the Lib Dems, the Conservatives do not have a majority to pass laws in Parliament, and so compromises have to be made. As the Conservatives did not win an outright majority, there is no obligation on their part for a Free Vote.
The fact of the matter is, few Lib Dem MP's support Repeal. Therefore, if a Free Vote were to be held today, while the majority of Conservatives would vote for repeal, there are not enough of them to win, and so Hunting would remain banned forever.
In the future, this will hopefully change. With luck, the Conservatives will win an outright majority in 2015. This will allow them to hold a Free Vote which would in effect be a repeal. Alternatively, if the unfair West Lothian question was properly addressed, and only English/Welsh MP's got to vote on issues which concerned solely England/Wales, we could also have repeal. This is because 50 or so Scottish Labour MP's would no longer be able to vote on it as the legislation solely affects England & Wales. Of course this would also occur if Scotland votes for independence later this year.
All in all we are lucky that the Tories have not given us a free vote to shut us up because they know they will lose it, because they did not win the election so do not have a majority.
HOWEVER as we are all aware, the Conservatives were not elected. Instead, they have to share power with the Lib Dems in coalition. Without the Lib Dems, the Conservatives do not have a majority to pass laws in Parliament, and so compromises have to be made. As the Conservatives did not win an outright majority, there is no obligation on their part for a Free Vote.
The fact of the matter is, few Lib Dem MP's support Repeal. Therefore, if a Free Vote were to be held today, while the majority of Conservatives would vote for repeal, there are not enough of them to win, and so Hunting would remain banned forever.
In the future, this will hopefully change. With luck, the Conservatives will win an outright majority in 2015. This will allow them to hold a Free Vote which would in effect be a repeal. Alternatively, if the unfair West Lothian question was properly addressed, and only English/Welsh MP's got to vote on issues which concerned solely England/Wales, we could also have repeal. This is because 50 or so Scottish Labour MP's would no longer be able to vote on it as the legislation solely affects England & Wales. Of course this would also occur if Scotland votes for independence later this year.
All in all we are lucky that the Tories have not given us a free vote to shut us up because they know they will lose it, because they did not win the election so do not have a majority.
Alec Swan
Well-Known Member
^^^^ irritatingly correct! Without the clear ability to affect a Repeal, to attempt it would be lunacy.
Alec.
Alec.
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
Yes, quite so. That, and the fact that public opinion remains overwhelmingly against repeal. It will never happen.
Countryman
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't be so sure. While you claim public opinion is against - yes, most people when asked on the spot might say they were against rather than for hunting, it is not something important to them, it's not something they'd even cross the street to sign a petition for, and it's certainly not something they'd base their vote on.
Alec Swan
Well-Known Member
I'd agree with Countryman. If Scotland have their referendum, and independence isn't achieved, don't run away with the idea that that's the end of the matter. Those who want independence, will keep going until they get there way. Similarly, should a repeal of the hunting ban fail, so the campaign will continue, and it will continue for as long as there are those who hunt, hopefully!
Alec.
Alec.
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
Ah well, optimism is very endearing even if its based on a wishful but unrealistic fantasy. Good for you.