Scottish Separatism is Seen Even in the "Foxhunting'' Bills

• 07.16.2015, 10:27
•  Europe,  World

British Prime Minister David Cameron has withdrawn its attempt to relax the UK’s foxhunting ban mainly because he faced defeat after Scottish Nationalists threatened to side with the opposition.

Downing Street is expected to come back to this issue in autumn after the proposed introduction of English votes for English laws (Evel) in parliament. This would make clear whether a majority of non-Scottish MPs were in favour of weakening the foxhunting ban, The Guardian reports.

Labour and dozens of Tory MPs were also opposed to the change, which would have allowed hunters to flush out foxes using a pack of dogs for the purpose of pest control. This is currently allowed in Scotland, but there is a limit of two dogs in England and Wales.

''David Cameron is not master of all he surveys in the House of Commons. He’s got a fragile majority and perhaps one of the benefits of this over the last couple of days is reminding him how fragile that majority is and if he’s got any sense he will reflect on that,'' said Nicola Sturgeon Leader of Scottish National Party, Euronews writes. "Since the election, David Cameron’s government has shown very little respect to the mandate that Scottish MPs have. On the Scotland bill, reasonable amendments backed by the overwhelming majority of Scottish MPs have been voted down. The English votes for English laws proposals brought forward go beyond any reasonable proposition and look to make Scottish MPs effectively second-class citizens in the House of Commons," added Sturgeon.

The Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) won 56 of the country’s 59 parliamentary seats in the last election and with Cameron’s Conservatives only having a 12 seat majority, the SNP is a force to be reckoned with.

As Daily Mail  suggests, the change in law proposed by the government would only have applied to England and Wales and the SNP have pledged not to get involved if legislation doesn't affect Scotland. However, Sturgeon is making a point over what she says is the lack of respect for Scottish MPs.

David Cameron, in his turn, declared that the position of the SNP has up to now always been clear, which is that they do not vote on matters that are purely of interest to England, or England and Wales.

 ''It’s now for Nicola Sturgeon to explain why they are going against their longstanding principle that she set out very clearly in February of this year of not voting on matters that purely affect England and why they are going against the principle of something that applies to Scotland will not apply to England and Wales,'' Cameron's official spokeswoman told BBC.

The government would set out its next steps in due course, but the Prime Minister was still committed to his manifesto pledge about giving MPs a free vote on relaxing the foxhunting law, she said.

In general, fox hunting is an extremely divisive issue in Britain, with supporters hail it as an important rural tradition which helps pest control and opponents criticising it as cruel and elitist.