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		MEP raps hunt ban in Strasbourg Parliament Tuesday, 14 September 2004 Following the government's announcement of its plan for a hunting bill, East Midlands MEP Roger Helmer took the first opportunity in the European parliament in Strasbourg on Monday to speak out against Labour's proposals. Speaking in the opening session of the week, he described Labour's plan as "aiming to criminalise some of the most decent, responsible, law-abiding people in the country, and a major threat to civil liberties, rural values and animal welfare". He said it was "an assault on human rights and cultural diversity". Mr Helmer particularly criticised Labour's plan to defy parliamentary procedure by invoking the Parliament Act. Many constitutional lawyers, he said, regard this idea as a wholly improper use of the Act. Speaking after the session in Strasbourg, Mr Helmer added "I should be the last person to ask the European institutions to interfere in the governance of the UK. Nevertheless, the parliament provides a forum in which to speak out against Labour's plans, and I was happy to use it. We must take every opportunity to fight Labour's unjust and oppressive proposals".