LONDON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- British pro-hunting lobby the Countryside Alliance argued in the High Court Tuesday the government's ban on hunting with dogs is unconstitutional.
Their argument rested on the government's use of the 1949 Parliament Act -- a rarely invoked piece of legislation allowing the House of Commons to push a bill into law without the consent of the House of Lords -- to implement the ban.
The Countryside Alliance believes the Parliament Act -- which itself was established without the Lord's approval -- is unconstitutional. A ruling in their favor would likely provoke a constitutional crisis and cause the rescinding of other laws passed under the act, including those allowing the conviction of war criminals and elections for the European Parliament.
The government said in a press release it is "confident" the court will uphold the ban.
Countryside Alliance Chairman John Jackson said he is certain the alliance will win its case.
"This is probably the most important constitutional case the High Court has ever had to consider and it's something which should concern all of us," he told reporters outside Parliament.
"What the House of Commons did in 1949, we say, is completely unlawful and showed complete disrespect for the rule of law."
