Hunting protestors burst into UK Commons
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-16 08:50

Six pro-hunting demonstrators have burst onto the floor of Britain's parliament in the week's second audacious breach of security at a landmark site.

The stunt on Wednesday -- which briefly halted debate among astonished legislators -- came two days after a fathers' rights campaigner scaled a balcony at Buckingham Palace.

A television grab shows protesters opposed to a ban on fox hunting entering the floor of Britain's parliament in London, September 15, 2004. In an extraordinary breach of security, the protesters, in white T-shirts, walked into the chamber on Wednesday to remonstrate with members of parliament, causing a debate on banning the ancient pursuit to be suspended. [Reuters]

Dressed in white T-shirts bearing the faces of Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, the shouting protesters raced into the ornate chamber from a back door and bore down on a government minister who was leading debate.

After shouting and gesticulating, they were wrestled away by parliamentary guards in ceremonial black suits.

The breach calls into question Britain's softly-softly approach to security in which top officials appear in public with only low-profile protection, most police patrol unarmed and the public can enter key institutions such as parliament.

That contrasts with the United States, which has tightened "homeland security" across daily life.

Pro-hunting demonstrators clash with police outside the Houses of Parliament in London, September 15, 2004. Fox hunting could be outlawed across Britain after hundreds of years as parliament votes on Wednesday to ban it against a backdrop of deafening street protests and political wrangling. [Reuters]

"They could have done absolutely anything," said legislator Claire Ward of the ruling Labour Party.

The government promised an urgent inquiry.

Security had in fact been tightened at parliament, not only in response to an increased global threat of terrorism, but after an unprecedented attack on Blair in May.

Then, two men campaigning for divorced fathers' rights of access to their children, hit Blair with purple powder missiles as virtually the entire government convened in the House of Commons. The substance was harmless: the embarrassment acute.

By coincidence, a London court on Wednesday convicted one of the Fathers 4 Justice campaigners involved, Patrick Davis, for disorder, but let him off with just a suspended two-year jail sentence.

"Rogue moment"

Wednesday's stunt brings to a head a growing national debate over balancing security with democratic access.

It also adds to a recent litany of high-profile breaches of security including a man wearing an Osama bin Laden beard breaking into Prince William's birthday party.

"If you want total separation of the government of this country from the public you can do it with barbed wire," said security analyst Tim Ripley, of Lancaster University.

"But the aim is to let members of the public meet their representatives ... You will always risk this rogue moment."

Labour legislator Graham Allen suggested a glass bubble should be erected over the House of Commons debating floor so spectators could watch but parliamentarians would be protected.

The intrusion came as some 10,000 protesters gathered outside parliament in a rally against the likely vote to ban fox hunting.

Riot police carrying shields and truncheons skirmished on-and-off with pro-hunt protesters who jeered, threw bottles, set off firecrackers and surged towards police lines.

Police made seven arrests, and 17 people -- including one officer -- were injured.

Some had blood streaming from their heads.

Blair vowed to outlaw hunting with hounds when he took power in 1997 but fierce opposition has repeatedly stalled that.

But Blair, whose authority over his Labour Party has been eroded by the Iraq war, is now determined to push through a ban before an expected general election next year.

Opponents denounce hunting as a barbaric bloodsport while supporters defend it as an essential part of rural life that dates back three centuries.

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