For those of us who missed it...

From last Sunday's Observer...

Ferry fears ministers may die in hunt row

Mark Townsend
Sunday November 7, 2004
The Observer

The ringleader of the group of hunt supporters who stormed the House of Commons
has warned that ministers might be 'assassinated' as anger mounts over a
possible ban on blood sports.
Otis Ferry, the son of rock singer Bryan, said he feared that deepening
resentment towards the government could result in people being killed. The
21-year-old, who remains on police bail for his part in the invasion of
parliament, even fears that the Rural Affairs Minister, Alun Michael - whom he
confronted across the despatch box during the infamous stunt - may be a target.

His anxiety coincided with a wave of national protests yesterday to mark the
start of the new hunting season. Thousands of people from Northumberland to
Devon vowed to risk prison rather than obey a prospective ban.

Ferry, a celebrity member of the hutning fraternity who rode out as joint master
of the South Shropshire hunt told The Observer: 'Feelings are running high.
People are starting to realise a ban might happen and people might get
assassinated.

'But I would feel terrible if anyone assassinated someone like Alun Michael. It
would be a disgrace if anything violent happens.'

Effigies of Michael, along with Tony Blair, were torched by hunters at bonfires
in Leicestershire on Friday. Evidence of the tactics used to intimidate
anti-hunt MPs has grown more apparent as the prospect of a ban draws closer.

Observer inquiries have discovered that 13 MPs who support the hunting Bill have
been targeted by extremist groups. One claims that his family has been
intimidated and he has had manure dumped in his garden.


Another reported that a lump of concrete had been thrown through a window of his
constituency office, while others have stopped holding surgeries or walking out
alone at night after being harassed. Michael himself has been pelted with eggs
and is routinely heckled by pro-hunt supporters on public appearances.

Ferry, who says that he is against violence and claims the Commons stunt on 15
September was chosen because no one would be harmed, said there had been
discussions about another high-profile stunt to draw attention to the cause.

But he refused to divulge details, adding only: 'The government has probably had
its fill of peaceful and comical protest.'

As the prospect of a hunt ban looms, Ferry says that there is a growing
suspicion among hunt supporters that urban Britain dislikes every thing they
stand for: 'They absolutely hate us, it's real hatred. There is not a level of
reasonable debate.

'But nobody is going to lie down. It's like introducing a 30mph speed limit that
doesn't work, everybody carries on doing 50mph and eventually they back down.'

The third reading of the Hunting Bill is scheduled for a week tomorrow.

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