Three Dorset MPs to vote in favour of fox hunting repeal

A proposal to changes to the hunting ban in the House of Commons tomorrow (Wednesday), would make it legal for foxes to be hunted with packs of dogs as long as it was ‘appropriate’ for the terrain and done ‘efficiently’.

The government will reportedly give MPs a free vote on whether to bring existing practice in England and Wales ‘into line’ with that in Scotland.

Scottish hunts can use an unlimited number of dogs to flush out foxes but in England and Wales just two are allowed.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said he would be voting in favour of the repeal and added: “This inconsistency, as with many other anomalies between Scottish and English laws, needs to be brought into line and I support it.

“This technical change has been called for by farmers in England and Wales, who have struggled to protect livestock from foxes since the hunting ban 10 years ago.”

Mr Drax said it would be ‘ironic’ if the SNP, whose farming constituents benefit from these rules in Scotland, vote on Wednesday to deny it to farmers in England and Wales.

West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin said he would also be voting in favour of the fox hunting repeal.

He said: "Although I do not myself hunt, I came to the conclusion when the first bill was being debated in 1997 that others should have the liberty to do so, and I have voted accordingly ever since."

Simon Hoare, recently elected MP for North Dorset, said he was ‘committed to a total repeal’ and said he hoped Thursday’s vote would be the ‘first step’ towards bringing fox hunting back after a decade-long ban.

Prime Minister David Cameron made a manifesto pledge to allow a free vote on repealing the ban on hunting with dogs, which came into force in 2005 under the last Labour government.

But the government has been criticised for allowing only 90 minutes for Wednesday's vote, with any decision implemented by ‘statutory instrument’ rather than needing a full act of Parliament.