Lords to defy MPs over hunting Bill

The House of Lords was set for a showdown with the Commons today as peers prepared to reject plans for a complete ban on hunting.

The Lords are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of overturning the ban when the Bill receives its third reading tonight.

Hopes of a last-minute compromise now look doomed. Tony Blair had hoped a deal could be struck with backbench Labour MPs to allow hunting to continue under a licensing scheme. But both peers and anti-hunt MPs made clear that there was no mood for a compromise.

Labour MP Michael Foster accused peers of being " hellbent on confrontation with the House of Commons".

Mr Blair now faces the prospect of seeing next year's general election being overshadowed by pro-hunting demonstrations.

A government amendment to the Bill delayed the implementation of the ban by 18 months.

But peers are expected to vote in favour of an "honest ban" tonight which would see hunting with hounds banned within three months.

They claim any longer delay would play into the Prime Minister's hands by shunting the start date of a ban beyond the general election.

Both sides are now braced for a bruising four-day constitutional clash as the Bill "ping pongs" between the Lords and the Commons before Parliament rises on Thursday evening.

If no solution can be found, Speaker Michael Martin will use the Parliament Act and force a ban into law.

The Countryside Alliance has warned it will mount a legal challenge. Labour peer Baroness Mallalieu, president of the CA, said: "If they try to use the Parliament Act we go straight into court."