Fate of fox hunting in the hands of the UK upper chamber

The thorny issue of fox hunting returned to the UK's parliament on Tuesday, as the House of Lords debated whether the pursuit should be banned.

The government's efforts to outlaw fox hunting have been stymied for years by Parliament's tradition-bound upper chamber, where a majority of peers are opposed to an outright ban.

Hunting supporters say a ban would put up to 8,000 people out of work -- not only employees of some 200 hunts around the country, but saddlers, blacksmiths, grooms and stablehands.

Opponents say it is a bloody and barbaric practice that has no place in the 21st Century.

The House of Commons once again voted overwhelmingly for a ban, but the legislation must be approved by the Lords.

Frustrated at years of deadlock between the two Houses, the government has said it will force the Hunting Bill into law if peers once again defy the Commons.

But Prime Minister Tony Blair, aware that an outright ban would cause a storm of protest in the countryside, has also hinted that he would welcome efforts to forge a compromise.

Environment Minister Lord Whitty cautioned peers against a showdown with the Commons and urged them to seek a sensible way forward. If they did not find a workable compromise, they risked the ban being forced onto the statute book, he said Tuesday.

"Your lordships need to reflect that we are now in the last chance saloon," he said.

But some peers appeared not to be in the mood for compromise.

"This bill has little to do with animal welfare and all to do with bigotry and class prejudice," said Conservative Baroness Byford.

She added: "The passage of this bill will only encourage those who would disturb and even destroy the lives of others in the name of a dogmatic, illogical stance on animal welfare."

The Bishop of Chelmsford, John Gladwin, said during the debate that outright bans were a "very bad way of legislating."

"I too have rather a long list of things that I think are undesirable and socially corrupting," he said. "It might include adultery, gambling and tobacco, but we have found ways of managing these things without banning everything in sight. Hunting is not a high political priority. I hope we can find another way forward than this."

Fox hunting polarizes Britain. While the royal family and many others delight in scarlet-jacketed horsemen and women thundering after foxes with a pack of baying hounds, opinion polls show most Britons believe it's barbaric.

Rural campaigners have said they will challenge a ban in court and mobilize thousands of supporters to protest on the streets.

Peers are likely to spend several days over the next month debating the issue and return the legislation to the Commons in mid-November. It would then be up to lawmakers whether they accepted the compromise or tried to force through a ban.