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PRINCE Charles has made plain his exasperation at moves to ban foxhunting.
He told a private gathering, which included a senior politician: 'If the Labour government ever gets around to banning foxhunting, I might as well leave this country and spend the rest of my life skiing.' The Prince has also suggested that Ministers would never dare treat ethnic minorities or homosexuals in the way they have treated farmers and rural communities.
In a private letter to the Prime Minister, Charles made clear that he backed the view of a farmer from Cumbria who told him 'if we, as a group, were black or gay, we would not be victimised or picked upon'.
The Prince of Wales is understood to have gone on to accuse Mr Blair's Government of 'destroying the countryside'.
It was not clear last night whether Mr Blair had replied to the letter, which was sent following a meeting between the two men.
Both Downing Street and St James's Palace refused to comment on the furore, insisting that they never discuss private correspondence between the Prince and Mr Blair.
Charles's comments will delight countryside campaigners who claim Mr Blair is prepared to sacrifice foxhunting as a sop to his disgruntled backbenchers.
The revelations come...