The Government’s plan for a free vote to repeal the Hunting Act has been shelved. The League Against Cruel Sports, which led the successful campaign to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales, says the coalition has backed down because it knows the vote would be lost.
Douglas Batchelor, the League’s long-serving chief executive, said: “There is no real appetite for bringing back a bloodsport.” According to the League, 319 MPs oppose repeal – they want the ban to stay – and only 253 support it. A further 15 MPs told the League they would abstain while 23 were undecided.
On the basis of these figures, Mr Batchelor expressed “confidence” that a vote to repeal the Hunting Act would fail. Especially interesting is the news – which came as a shock to Government whips – that 22 Conservatives support the ban and intended to vote against repeal.
Most are new MPs elected for the first time in May – in the last Parliament only three Tories were anti-hunt. News that the Hunting Act appears to be safe will be greeted with rapture by animal welfare supporters up and down the country – including new Labour Party leader Ed Miliband who has vowed to “pursue a progressive agenda” concerning the welfare of animals.
