David Cameron plans to let MPs vote on allowing hunts to use more dogs to flush out foxes before shooting them, which is only likely to pass if SNP does not vote

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

David Cameron is planning to hold a vote on relaxing the fox hunting ban next week in a move that is only likely to be successful if the Scottish National party decides to stay out of the debate.

The prime minister will stop short of offering a vote to repeal the ban, which he promised in the Conservative manifesto.

Instead, Downing Street is offering a compromise solution in which hunters could use a pack of dogs to flush out foxes before shooting them. There is currently a limit of two dogs.

This would bring England’s law into line with the restrictions in Scotland, making it more difficult for the SNP to object.

It is understood Cameron is planning to hold the free vote next Thursday on a statutory instrument to amend the Hunting Act, rather than requiring full legislation and hours of debate.

Pro-hunting MPs are understood to be happy with the proposed “middle way” but animal rights campaigners condemned the proposal.

Robbie Marsland, director of the League Against Cruel Sports , said it was “nothing but sneaking hunting in through the back door”.

“By amending the Hunting Act like this, the government are deliberately and cynically making it easier for hunts to chase and kill foxes, and harder for them to be convicted when they break the law. This is not about hunting foxes for pest control. It’s about hunting foxes for fun,” he said.

“David Cameron pledged to hold a free vote on bringing back hunting but clearly they know they couldn’t win. So now they are using deception to fool the public.”

Cameron’s proposal does not quite fulfil his Conservative manifesto pledge, which would have offered parliament the chance to repeal the Hunting Act with a government bill on government time.

It is understand he retreated from that position because pro-hunting MPs were not confident there was enough support in the Commons to fully overturn the ban.

“I think [the compromise proposal] makes a significant difference to the numbers. It’s not completely straightforward but there are a lot of people who were reluctant about going the whole hog but are relatively happy with the proposed change,” one Conservative MP said.



The success of Cameron’s proposal relies on the tradition that the SNP does not vote on English issues as a matter of principle.



Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, said after the election that her party was still considering the issue as it certainly did not agree with repealing the ban.

An SNP spokesman said no decision had yet been taken on whether the party would vote on the amendment.

MPs will not be subject to a party whip on the matter, which is considered to be one of conscience. Cameron is likely to vote in favour of the change, having written for the Countryside Alliance in March that he would like to see the ban repealed.

At the time, Cameron, who was once a member of Heythrop hunt in Oxfordshire, argued hunting was no less humane than other methods of controlling foxes.

“There is definitely a rural way of life which a born and bred Londoner might struggle to understand,” he wrote. “I have always been a strong supporter of country sports. It is my firm belief that people should have the freedom to hunt, so I share the frustration that many people feel about the Hunting Act and the way it was brought in by the last government.”