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A Tory MP has faced calls to quit the Commons environment committee after getting a pay rise from fox hunting supporters.

Simon Hart was a previous chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, which helped stage 300 hunts across the country on Boxing Day and oppose the current hunting ban.

After being elected as MP for Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire in 2010, he went back on the Alliance’s payroll as a consultant at £20,000 a year for six hours a week.

But he has now been given a new role, earning £30,000 a year - more than the average UK salary - as a “high net-worth consultant” with the pro-bloodsport group working eight hours a week.

The pay rise, awarded in November and disclosed in the latest register of members’ interests, comes after dad-of-two Mr Hart, 52, was made a member of Parliament’s environment, food and rural affairs committee.

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Former Labour MP and animal rights campaigner Chris Williamson questioned whether someone on the influential committee should take a wage from hunting advocates.

Mr Williamson said: “He has a clear conflict of interest.

“It is highly improper in my view for Simon Hart to be sitting on this select committee when not only does he have these objectionable views but is actually receiving a substantial sum of money to promote these views within the committee.

“It’s not really a healthy position in my view for anybody to be in the pay of the organisation in that way, it’s not healthy for democracy.

“It’s actually the sort of thing that leads people to become cynical about the whole political process.”

"Donations from prominent pro-hunt supporters helped Mr Hart in his 2010 and 2015 general election victories, officials record reveal.

Mr Hart was unavailable for comment today.