Tally Ho No More

It is the sport for the landed gentry, who see it as a quaint country pursuit steeped in British history.

The English language is littered with terms derived from fox hunting, including "going to the dogs" and "in for the kill. "In the pink" means you’re feeling great, the way British hunters supposedly feel when they don the bright red blazers, otherwise known as "pinks".

Critics simply call it a class anachronism, a barbaric blood sport championed by pompous aristocrats on horse back.

Whatever, Britain's politicians voted overwhelmingly on Monday to ban fox hunting with hounds, ending a pastime of more than 300 years on England’s green and pleasant hills.

The House of Commons was asked to choose between three options: a complete ban, the preservation of the status quo and the compromise of licensed fox hunting.

On Monday night MPs voted by 386 to 175 in favour of a ban - a majority of 211.

But it is unlikely to be the end of it. Speculation remains that the government will in the end opt for a compromise.

The bill still has to pass the traditionally conservative House of Lords to become law.

Although the Lords are in principle in favour of allowing hunts to continue, Monday night's overwhelming Commons vote in favour of a ban means they are under pressure to give ground.

And unless a compromise is reached here, there is likely to be a time-consuming battle between the two houses of parliament.

The Scottish Parliament voted to ban hunting with hounds last month and it will probably become law later this year.