On this day in vegan history · February 13, 2002
Scotland Bans Fox Hunting
After three years of parliamentary trench warfare, MSPs voted by more than two to one to make Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to outlaw hunting foxes and hares with dogs.
The facts
- Vote
- 83 to 36 in favor, February 13, 2002
- Introduced by
- Mike Watson MSP, 1999, with SNP MSP Tricia Marwick
- Royal assent
- March 15, 2002
- Came into force
- August 1, 2002
On February 13, 2002, the Scottish Parliament passed the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act by a vote of eighty-three to thirty-six, banning traditional fox hunting and hare coursing across Scotland. The bill had been introduced back in 1999 by Labour MSP Mike Watson, with support from SNP MSP Tricia Marwick, and spent years working through committee before reaching a final vote. The Scottish Countryside Alliance tried to stop the law by taking the government to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, but lost that summer, with the judge recognizing the will of the Parliament on the issue. The act received royal assent the following month and took effect on August 1, 2002, more than two years before England and Wales followed with their own Hunting Act.
In their words
The day in the words of the people who were there. Every quote is verbatim, and every source links out so you can check it.
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On 13 February 2002 the Parliament voted by eighty-three to thirty-six to pass the legislation to ban hunting with dogs.
Wikipedia, describing the Scottish Parliament vote
Source: Wikipedia -
The Scottish Countryside Alliance attempted to block introduction of the legislation by taking their case to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, although their appeal was not successful and in July the Judge recognised the will of the Parliament on this issue.
Wikipedia, on the Scottish Countryside Alliance's failed legal challenge
Source: Wikipedia
Why it still matters
It was the first ban of its kind anywhere in the UK, and it showed that a determined legal challenge from hunting interests could lose in court, a precedent that helped clear the path for England and Wales to pass their own Hunting Act two years later.
Sources
This history is still being written.
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