During the last Prime Minister's Questions before the Christmas recess, I asked Gordon Brown to confirm that a Labour Government would not repeal the ban on hunding with dogs.
Emily Thornberry (Islington, South and Finsbury) (Lab): Will my right hon. Friend give the public a guarantee that he will never lift the ban on hunting with dogs?
The Prime Minister: I am surprised that a political party wants to fight the next election on withdrawing the ban on fox hunting. In fact, that is that party's only job creation policy-to create a quango to run fox hunting. I believe that it is making a terrible mistake, and it will pay for it at the next election.
I was pleased that the Prime Minister was so clear in his answer
I have also been speaking to Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Minister told me that the Conservative party are committed, if elected, to reopening the debate on the ban. You can see my meeting with Hilary Benn by clicking on the links on the right of this page.
Many constituents have asked me to add my name to Early Day Motion (EDM) 79 in support of the Keep Cruelty History campaign. I have signed the EDM and you can read the full text below:
ANIMAL WELFARE 18.11.2009
That this House celebrates the Government's record on animal welfare; believes the Hunting Act 2004 banning fox hunting, hare coursing, hare hunting and stag hunting is in keeping with the current ideas on animal welfare; notes that over 75 per cent. of the public supports the ban; deplores the flouting of the law by some practitioners of fox hunting; and supports campaigns such as Keep Cruelty History that are strongly opposed to any attempt to repeal the Hunting Act.
I have also signed the petition to Back the Ban. You can add your name at www.backtheban.org/
