British MPs back ban on hunting

Hunters and demonstrators at the Bicester and Waddon Chase in Winslow, England.

LONDON, England (CNN) -- British MPs have voted to ban hunting with hounds, the latest move in a bitter long-running wrangle.

The House of Commons, voting on Monday night, supported plans to outlaw hunting foxes, stags and hares with packs of dogs.

The debate now moves on Tuesday to parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords, which has traditionally supported hunting.

Neither vote will be binding on the government, which says it wants to assess legislators' opinion before deciding what to do. A further announcement is expected before Easter.

The vote in favour of an outright ban was 386-175. In a separate ballot on Monday, MPs also rejected plans to seek a compromise, possibly including licensing and tighter controls of hunts.

This "third way" had been favoured by some government officials. But the MPs' decision puts more pressure on Prime Minister Tony Blair to push through an outright ban.

The Scottish Parliament voted to ban hunting with dogs last month and it is expected to be outlawed in Scotland soon.

Blair intended to back a ban, said his spokesman before Monday's vote.

But he is under pressure from the Countryside Alliance, a pressure group including landowners and employees, who say hunting keeps the fox population in check and provides employment for thousands of people.

The anti-hunt lobby, including many of Blair's MPs, says it is a cruel and ineffective form of pest control.

MPs were given a free vote on Monday, meaning they were under no pressure to toe party lines.

It was the third time politicians had voted on the issue since Blair's Labour Party came to power in 1997 but the first time Blair had voted.