PARLIAMENT should set and maintain an example of tolerance and rational behaviour.

Instead, we see an elective dictatorship that seems to have lost all sense of proportion and fairness, as evidenced in the hunting debate.

I have never hunted in any way in my life and never expect to, but I am appalled by the obsessive and bitter determination of Members of Parliament like Mike Foster, Tony Banks, Gerald Kaufman and the rest to ban foxhunting.

Whatever happened to British respect for liberty and the right of citizens to go freely about their business and pleasure as long as they do not interfere with others?

How would the Labour backbenchers feel if there were vindictive moves to ban "urban" football and, in doing so, to destroy the employment associated with it.

Let no one be so naive as to believe that this is really about cruelty to foxes - there might be a case for banning if cruelty could be scientifically proven - what this is about is old-fashioned class warfare by other means, a sad and spiteful attack on those who are ignorantly and stupidly perceived to be "toffs" in red jackets.

Parliament is demeaned by this vendetta against the life and livelihood of the British countryside.

It is almost beyond belief that large numbers of our elected representatives think so much Parliamentary time should be devoted to banning hunting when urban as well as rural Britain has so many other and much greater priorities.

Only 2 per cent of the public think the banning of hunting

should be a priority at all. The rural community is generally a lawful one, with respect for traditional British values of decency and the spirit of "live and let live".

It is a perverse and disreputable Government that allows itself to be hijacked by self-righteous zealots who behave towards some of their fellow citizens with all the subtlety and sensitivity of brawling playground bullies.

ERIC H JONES (Dr),

Guarlford,

Near Malvern.