Hunting ban unlikely to be repealed says Minister

Owen Patterson, the Environment Secretary and the Cabinet’s leading supporter of hunting and other country sports has admitted there is little hope of the hunting ban being repealed.

Mr Patterson told today's Daily Telegraph that he accepts there is no prospect of winning a vote next year, saying only that the vote will come "at an appropriate moment."

Mr Paterson said: "There’s only a point having a vote if you’re going to win. "At the moment I, it would not be my proposal to bring forward a vote which we were going to lose. There needs to be more work done on members of parliament.

" He added: "It is our clear intention to have a free vote but we need to choose an appropriate moment."

Mr Patterson's comments come as a new poll revealed the majority of the Great British public are still opposed to Hunting with Dogs.

The survey, carried out by Ipsos MORI for animal welfare charities, the League Against Cruel Sports, RSPCA and IFAW, shows that three in four people in Great Britain (76 per cent) think that fox hunting should not be made legal again; around eight in ten, 81 per cent, think deer hunting should not be made legal again; and 83 per cent think hare hunting/coursing should not be made legal again. 1 Ipsos MORI

All three charities welcomed the poll results saying they confirmed that the majority of public remain implacably opposed to hunting.

Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, says: “Hunting is a barbaric and sickening blood sport belonging to the past. Whether you live in a castle or council house, choose to ignore the law, we will catch you and see you in the dock."

Gavin Grant, Chief Executive of the RSPCA added: “The British people do not want a return to animals being chased and torn apart for fun.

"These wildlife criminals are totally out of touch with public opinion. The British people want to see people enjoying the countryside and its wildlife whilst respecting the animals and the law.”