1660s Hounds first trained to hunt foxes

1750s fox hunting spreads across Britain

1835 Parliament bans bear and bull baiting

1836 first Waterloo Cup hare-coursing event

1849 cock fighting illegal

1949 two Private Member’s Bills to ban or restrict hunting fail

1959 deer hunting with dogs banned in Scotland

1970 Commons votes for Bill to ban hare coursing but runs out of time

1978 otter hunting illegal in England and Wales

1988-97 12 Private Member’s Bills to ban hunting with dogs: all fail

1992 illegal to hunt badgers in England, Scotland and Wales

1997 National Trust bans deer hunting on its land

1997 Labour manifesto promises free vote

June 1997 MPs vote for the Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill by 411 to 151. Runs out of time

November 11, 1999 Government sets up inquiry into hunting chaired by Lord Burns

December 15, 1999 Ken Livingstone tries again with Private Member’s Bill. Fails

June 12, 2000 Lord Burns stated hunting “seriously compromises the welfare of the fox”

January 17, 2001 Government “Options Bill”: ban passed by MPs 387 to 174. Defeated by Lords

April 2001 Labour manifesto free vote pledge

February 13, 2002 Scottish Parliament bans foxhunting

March 18: MPs vote for total ban by 386 to 175

August 1 Scottish ban comes into force

December 3 Hunting Bill allows some fox and mink hunting under licence

December 16 MPs amend Hunting Bill to turn it into a total ban by 368 to 155

June 30, 2003 Second Reading: total ban passed by 362 to 154

July 9 Third reading: total ban passed by 317 to 145

October 21 Lords vote by 261 to 49 for regulated hunting

October 29 Bill runs out of time in the Lords

September 15, 2004 Second reading: total ban passed by 356 to 166. Pro-hunt activists invade Commons and thousands protest outside

September 28 Pro-hunt campaigners dump four dead animals in Brighton during Labour conference

October 26 Lords vote 322 to 72 to restore licensed hunting to Bill

November 16 Third reading: compromise for some licensed hunting rejected by 321 to 204

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