 Prime Minister Tony Blair's attempts to find a compromise over fox hunting are about to be rejected by Teesside MPs. Instead they have scented blood and are determined to kill off hunting by the end of the week. The long-running wrangle over hunting with dogs is coming to a head as the parliamentary year ends tomorrow. Despite repeated big Commons majorities to outlaw the sport, the Lords is still refusing to accept the legislation. Anti fox hunting MPs are ready to use the Parliament Act to force through a ban, but over the weekend Downing Street indicated that it was still looking for a compromise deal. Mr Blair favours a "Third Way" which would strictly regulate and license some hunting in closely prescribed conditions. That deal though seems certain to be rejected by most anti fox hunting MPs and most forcefully by local Labour Members. Redcar MP Vera Baird summed up the views of many colleagues when she said today: "I don't want any compromise." The Commons, she claimed, was in no mood to do deals, but was determined to press ahead with banning fox hunting. It was a view shared by Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar who said he had been fighting for a ban for seven-and-a-half years. "There is a strong feeling in the House, certainly on the Labour benches, that the time has come to put this matter to rest. "I regularly receive many letters from constituents asking me to support this measure because of hunting's cruelty to animals. Any civilised society would find this so-called sport unacceptable." The strength of public opinion on the issue has also convinced Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell against any compromise deals. "I have always said that on free vote issues, other than religious matters, I would be guided by the views of my constituents and I have received many letters supporting a ban on fox hunting and none in favour." Sir Stuart also believed an issue of principle was at stake the will of the elected House of Commons prevailing over the unelected Lords. "It is essential that the will of the Commons reigned supreme," he added. However in the Lords today some pro-hunting peers were set on a "kamikaze" option. Their aim is to make hunting an embarrassment for Tony Blair in the run-up to the General Election by going for an immediate ban and provoking trouble across the countryside. With hunt supporters planning a campaign of civil disobedience, they believe this would push the issue up the political agenda and lose Labour a number of rural seats. | 
