Peer backs hunt campaign

CENTENARIAN peer Lord Shawcross, will be 'Marching in Spirit' at the Countyryside Alliance's Liberty and Livelihood march next month.

The ex-Labour MP and Attorney General in Clement Atlee's post war government, has signed the Marching in Spirit register in support of the hundreds of thousands of people who will be joining the event on September 22.

The register allows those who cannot join the march for reasons of work, responsibility or illness to add their voice to the demonstration.

The life peer, who entered the House of Lords in 1959, will stay on his farm, at Cowbeech, near Hailsham, on the day while his wife, daughters and grandchildren take part in the massive demonstration.

They will be joining thousands of others from the area. Two special trains will be leaving Sussex carrying marchers to London as well as dozens of coaches organised by local people.

Speaking from their home Lady Shawcross said that her husband felt strongly about a number of issues. 'He will be Marching in Spirit to ask Parliament to help country people, not just fox hunters who are threatened by legislation, but also farmers who are suffering dreadfully at present and the elderly people in rural areas who cannot access services.

Country

'He has always believed that a government must work for the whole country, not just those areas which voted for it.'

More than 100,000 people have already registered to take part in the Liberty and Livelihood March which is expected to be the largest civil liberties demonstration in UK history.

More than 1,700 coaches and 33 special trains have been booked to carry the hundreds of thousands of marchers to the two start points in central London. The demonstration was originally planned to take place in March 2001, but was postponed due to the foot and mouth crisis.

For information on the Liberty and Livelihood March, or Marching in Spirit, phone the March Hotline on 020 7840 9300.

Local transport is being organised by Countryside Alliance regional director Peter Setterfield who can be contacted on 01798 344720.