Friday, May 28, 2004
L & L MARCH 2002
More than 400,000 protesters took part in the Liberty and Livelihood March on Sunday - hundreds of whom had travelled south from Cambridgeshire.
Although Ministers gave the demonstration a wide berth, farmers, hunters and Conservative politicians said the event had been a success.
Among those taking part were the Youngs, a couple from Yaxley, near Peterborough, who have spent their lives farming.
Lesley Young (49) said: "It was wonderful to get that many people gathered together, with such strength of feeling, from all occupations, backgrounds and ages.
"The march went very well and we're just hoping that we put our point across. Now we will have to wait and see what the Government is going to do."
Joint master of the Fitzwilliam Hunt, George Bowyer, was a steward at the march.
He and other followers of the hunt, based at the Milton estate on the edge of western Peterborough, have been incensed by the Government's move to curb fox-hunting.
"We're very happy with how the march went. Everyone was united in supporting country issues," he said.
"Hopefully after this the Government will have to take notice and pay attention to all the issues - not just fox-hunting - but the state of the rural economy, post offices closing down, farmers losing money.
"Unfortunately, I am sceptical that they will do anything but they must notice the strength of feeling among country people."
Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire, Sir Brian Mawhinney, joined constituents on the march.
He said: "It was an extremely impressive demonstration and I think it gave a very strong message to the Government. It was an impressive display of controlled unhappiness."
Although Ministers gave the demonstration a wide berth, farmers, hunters and Conservative politicians said the event had been a success.
Among those taking part were the Youngs, a couple from Yaxley, near Peterborough, who have spent their lives farming.
Lesley Young (49) said: "It was wonderful to get that many people gathered together, with such strength of feeling, from all occupations, backgrounds and ages.
"The march went very well and we're just hoping that we put our point across. Now we will have to wait and see what the Government is going to do."
Joint master of the Fitzwilliam Hunt, George Bowyer, was a steward at the march.
He and other followers of the hunt, based at the Milton estate on the edge of western Peterborough, have been incensed by the Government's move to curb fox-hunting.
"We're very happy with how the march went. Everyone was united in supporting country issues," he said.
"Hopefully after this the Government will have to take notice and pay attention to all the issues - not just fox-hunting - but the state of the rural economy, post offices closing down, farmers losing money.
"Unfortunately, I am sceptical that they will do anything but they must notice the strength of feeling among country people."
Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire, Sir Brian Mawhinney, joined constituents on the march.
He said: "It was an extremely impressive demonstration and I think it gave a very strong message to the Government. It was an impressive display of controlled unhappiness."
