Theresa May has promised MPs a free vote on foxhunting if the Tories win the general election.
"We have had a commitment previously as a Conservative Party to allow a free vote and that's what it will allow," she said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, welcomed the news, saying the 2004 Hunting Act, which bans hunting foxes and other wild animals with dogs in England and Wales, "continues to cause real problems" and that hunts were "the subject of constant vindictive allegations by animal rights activists, and employees... often investigated and sometimes prosecuted".
He added: "Overturning the ban and allowing properly conducted hunting with dogs to restart would correct an historic injustice and get rid of one of the most illiberal laws passed in modern times."
May's commitment will be welcomed by grassroots supporters in the party's heartlands after fears she was poised to drop the measure from the Conservative manifesto. Nevertheless, it "will dismay some modernising Tories", says the Daily Telegraph, citing MPs who argue it was best confined to history along with other policies "like hanging".
Eduardo Goncalves, director of the League Against Cruel Sports, asked: "Are we really going to turn the clock back to a time when killing animals for fun was legal?"
Animal charity the RSPCA also said the ban had the support of 84 per cent of the public.
-
How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are getting in the way of the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force
-
What is a bubble? Understanding the financial term.the explainer An AI bubble burst could be looming
-
France makes first arrests in Louvre jewels heistSpeed Read Two suspects were arrested in connection with the daytime theft of royal jewels from the museum
-
Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
-
Is the G7 still relevant?Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Is Starmer's plan to send migrants overseas Rwanda 2.0?Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemmaTalking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
