Rural Britain took over central London yesterday in the biggest invasion of its kind ever seen.
The Countryside Alliance's Liberty and Livelihood rural rights march was described last night as the biggest protest of any kind in the UK after at least 400,000 demonstrators converged on the capital.
Among them were an estimated 25,000 from the North-East and North Yorkshire.
Following months of organisation, the Countryside Alliance said the march was a huge success and it called on the Government to make a "considered response" to the concerns highlighted by the protest.
John Jackson, chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said: "It's the largest march for a demonstration of any kind that this country has seen. Anybody who thinks that this is just about hunting must be living on a different planet.
"If the Government makes the mistake of doing something unjust, I have no doubt that the countryside will erupt in fury. There is a simmering anger out there."
Today, Mr Blair's in-tray will include a 10-point letter from Mr Jackson headed What The Countryside Needs.
The Countryside Alliance has significant support from the Conservatives - a Mori poll of marchers found 82 per cent would vote Tory in a General Election.
Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith was just one high profile marcher, calling for the Government to stop "criminalising" hunters and address the real issues.
But rural affairs minister Alun Michael vowed to "nail the lie" that the Government does not understand the countryside.
Back on the streets protestors cited a variety of reasons for marching. The main sore point was a hunting ban, but many said the Government was becoming too bossy or the urban Labour elite just did not care about the countryside.
Flat caps, brown corduroys and waxed Barbour jackets was the uniform. As one marcher put it, it was the best dressed parade London has ever seen.
Not just farmers and hunters, but everyone from solicitors, doctors and housewives descended on London - not people normally moved to take to the streets.
The alliance now plans to hold a conference within the next 40 days with a view to setting up a rural council on a par with the TUC and CBI representing the "whole of the countryside".
Among the celebrities who turned out to support the cause were ex-footballer-turned Hollywood star Vinnie Jones, actor Edward Fox, chef Clarissa Dickson-Wright, Olympic gold medallist shooting competitor Richard Foulds and Earl Spencer, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Peter Gott, from Borrowby, North Yorkshire, who supports the Bilsdale Hunt, said: "We're so angry about being treated like children who can't make up our minds about moral issues by a Government that is failing in everything it does.
"If hunting is banned it will knock the whole heart out of our way of life and the way of life of pretty much everyone else that I know."
Phil Griffiths, of Barnard Castle, County Durham, said: "This is a show of solidarity. We have elected people to represent us and they are not listening. Surely we can't all be wrong?"
Farmer Martin Lowcock, who supports the Hurworth Hunt, said: "My main passion is not to be told what to do by townies who know nothing about the countryside at all."
Rural Britain's ten demands handed to Prime Minister
Ensure any hunting legislation is based on the evidence, is just and respects the rights of local communities as set out in the Rio Declaration.
Put the needs and aspirations of country people at the forefront of rural change and make their consent of paramount importance.
Enable British farmers to move away from subsidy dependence and support their ability to make a fair living in fair markets.
Instigate re-examination of competitive practices of supermarkets in the food chain.
Demonstrate a commitment to the reduction of social exclusion by rolling out broadband IT in rural areas to the same level as other EU countries.
Ensure public spending planning reflects the higher cost of providing services in rural areas.
Equality of provision of healthcare, education and public security between rural and urban areas.
Ensure that all Government legislation and action is rural proofed and all rural proofing is transparent.
Reverse disintegration of local communities by enabling them to manage their own affairs through empowered parish councils.
Require all Government agencies involved in rural affairs to reflect social and cultural issues and needs throughout their work.
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