FOR once, I have some sympathy with Prime Minister Tony Blair after he stayed away from the House of Commons vote to outlaw fox-hunting.

William Hague accused him of ducking out and being chicken. But the poor man was probably just bored, like the majority of the country, with this ridiculous issue that has hijacked so much debating time.

The letters pages of the Bucks Free Press have been filled over the past few years with turgid arguments for and against hunting.

It's a shame some of these people don't channel these passions into human rights. The world would be a better place if we took as much time and effort to fight for our fellow man, rather than putting so much energy into irrelevant subjects.

Don't get me wrong. Fox-hunting is a cruel and daft sport, peopled by lots of wallyish-looking toffs who like blowing bugles and wearing silly hats. Their argument that it reduces the evil fox population appears shallow because relatively few foxes die as a result.

Similarly, I'm not keen on the animal rights crusaders. I once got cajoled by a friend on going on a march to Smithfield in London to protest about the meat industry.

I found myself trapped among thousands of earnest bearded sandal-wearers (and that was just the girls). Suddenly, the crowd came across a wealthy-looking woman wearing a mink coat. They surrounded her, pointing their figures and hysterically chanted as one: "Murderer!"

I must admit it gave me a laugh at the time, but I know for a fact my particular friend cared more about animals than about humans.

However, at least that particular protest had a genuine focus factory farming, the huge meat industry etc etc.

Fox-hunting is a tiny minority pursuit that takes up far too much time of both supporters and opponents. It also has taken up valuable time in our Parliament.

Wednesday night's Commons' vote to outlaw hunting is likely to be blocked by the Lords, and won't go ahead for years, if ever. Everyone knew that before they started, so the whole exercise was a facade.

I vote to ban the fox-hunting debate. Give us all a rest and hope followers of the wasteful "sport" have the sense to give up of their own free will and find a more useful hobby instead.