BRITAIN: At least 300,000 protesters descended on central London yesterday for the Liberty and Livelihood march, claimed to be the largest demonstration in Britain since the 19th century.
As Britain's Minister for Rural Affairs, Mr Alun Michael, promised to release proposals on the future of hunting within weeks, supporters flocked to the Countryside Alliance protest against a ban. The march, which cost €1.5 million to organise, also aimed to increase awareness of other rural issues such as low incomes and poor services.
Organisers will today present Prime Minister Tony Blair with a list of 10 demands covering hunting, farming and the provision of local services. It calls for government legislation and action to be "rural-proofed" so that it does not inadvertently penalise countryside communities.
The demonstration was due to end at 6 p.m. but at 5 p.m. up to 40,000 campaigners were still queuing at Hyde Park Corner, the beginning of the Liberty march route. The alliance said 360,000 had already left the park or taken the Livelihood route, which started at Blackfriars, converging in Parliament Square. They had travelled from around the country on 2,500 coaches and 31 specially chartered trains. A Metropolitan police spokesman estimated the number of protesters at around 300,000.
Opposition leader Mr Iain Duncan Smith joined the march, as did the late Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, comedian Rory Bremner and footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones. Supporters from the US, Australia and Europe flew in to take part.
Organisers said that protecting the right to hunt was the "touchstone" of the rural campaigners' demands.
They asked the government to safeguard rural people from attacks on all field sports; respect rural values and customs; ensure they consented to laws directed at them; and address the real problems in the countryside.
"What we are saying is that we want government legislation on hunting to be clearly based on the evidence, to be just and to recognise the rights of local communities," said Mr John Jackson, Countryside Alliance chairman.
If it was not, he warned, "I think the countryside will erupt in fury."
He also called for the creation of a rural council within 40 days to focus on the issues raised by marchers.
Mr Michael has promised to publish proposals on the future of hunting with hounds within weeks, following a public consultation that ended last week. The government has said that MPs will have a free vote on the issue.
There has been speculation that Mr Michael may propose introducing a licensing system rather than an outright ban. He said yesterday that he had to balance the issue of utility, the need to manage land and control the fox population, with that of cruelty.
Mr Duncan Smith had earlier promised that a Conservative administration would allow government time for a bill to repeal a ban on hunting.
Two anti-hunt demonstrators were arrested for public order offences but a 150-strong anti-hunt counter-protest in Parliament Square remained peaceful.
The Prince of Wales's reported bid to influence Mr Blair over fox hunting and rural issues was yesterday described as "invidious and offensive" if it was true, by Labour MP Mr Tony Banks. Prince Charles was reported to have written to Mr Blair relaying countryside campaigners' views that they were being treated worse than other minorities, such as ethnic minorities or gays.