THE eight pro-hunting demonstrators who stormed the House of Commons were being questioned by detectives last night to find out who had helped them to infiltrate the Palace of Westminster’s tight security.
It is believed that a “mole” with extensive inside knowledge of the Commons provided detailed maps and plans showing how to get access to the debating chamber. The men’s telephone logs are being analysed to see if they had any contact with MPs, workmen or researchers based in the Houses of Parliament.
As a small band of supporters gathered outside Charing Cross police station, where the men are being held, the solicitor representing them, Matthew Knight, said that they were pawns in a political game.
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Relatives and friends of the men, aged between 21 and 42, also gave them their backing, claiming that they had been forced into adopting extreme measures because the Government was ignoring the views of a minority.
Mr Knight said: “They are not prison material and it’s a bit strange for them. But they are all in good spirits and we hope to have them out by tea time. They are not criminals and they were not caught doing anything. They did not hurt anybody, they did not do any damage, they didn’t force an entry.
“Clearly there’s a political dimension to this that will have an impact on events.” Asked why they had breached security at the Commons, he said: “They see themselves as absolutely powerless in the face of a powerful Government.”
The men are being questioned in connection with uttering a forged instrument, burglary with intent to commit criminal damage and violent disorder.
Among those arrested is Otis Ferry, the 21-year-old son of the rock star Bryan Ferry, who is joint master of the South Shropshire hunt. His girlfriend, Jackie Coward, an 18-year-old art student, said: “Otis has been absolutely distraught about the hunting ban. Hunting and everything associated with it is all he wants to do for the rest of his life.”
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Hugh St Clair, 45, a friend of Mr Ferry’s mother, Lucy Helmore, said: “She is supporting her son in every way she can. She’s very upset, but she backs him wholeheartedly.”
Luke Tomlinson, a polo player for England and close friend of princes William and Harry, is also among those arrested. The others are John Holliday, a huntsman from Ledbury; David Redvers, a stud owner at Hartpury, Gloucestershire; Robert Thame, a polo player; Andrew Elliot; Nick Wood and the point-to-point jockey Richard Wakeham.
Mr Redvers’s wife Laura praised her husband saying the 34-year-old had “guts”.
She said: “A lot of people feel passionately about hunting but not many have the guts to do what David did.”
Mrs Redvers, 30, accompanied her husband to the protest but she knew nothing about his plans to storm the Commons. She said: “He feels very passionately about hunting and the civil rights of minority groups. He wants to fight for the rights of this generation and future generations.”
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Mr Redvers, who hunts rarely because of work commitments, started a stud farm nine years ago. The couple have raced horses at Royal Ascot and Newmarket.
Mr Holliday, who is in his thirties, is a professional huntsman for the Ledbury Hunt in Herefordshire. Nicky Driver, a friend of Mr Holliday, said of the protest: “It was amazing — it was just a complete shock. We had no idea.” Ms Driver, of the Countryside Alliance, added: “If hunting is banned, he will lose his home and his job.””