Kevin's sense of shame

The hunting with dogs bill was voted in by the commons last night, but thanks to a few idiots the real issue has been overshadowed. Eight protesters storm the commons, and everyone talks about tightening security at parliament and that recent news staple, terrorism. A minority of protesters scuffle with the police outside, and our impartial media are talking about an invasion of thugs.

The real issue: This stopped being about animal welfare a long, long time ago. It's politics and votes. Deciding rural policy and bills that will affect the livelihood of people in rural communities based on the beliefs of people in urban areas is insane. The threatened use of the Parliament Act to force this through quickly makes a mockery of the fact that they've appended to the bill an eighteen month adjustment period. Not to mention that it makes a mockery of the whole democratic process.

'I know we said we'd debate it, so we're giving you one day and then we're voting. If the lords try to stop it or contest it any way, then we'll just push it right past them with this act designed for introducing emergency legislation.'

Kinda makes me ashamed of this country.

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We're told that the last time parliament was invaded in such a way was during the reign of Charles the 1st. This is the first time a CA-organised protest has been marred with violence. It's something to think about. People are angry, and getting angrier. And there are a lot of us.

I do wonder where it's going to end. How long before someone in London decides that shooting is cruel and calls for a ban? Or fishing? How long do we have left? I fear that we've started on a slippery slope and this vote is just the beginning.

Later . . .