I do appreciate that many people have strongly held views about hunting.
The Government had intended to give the House of Commons an opportunity in July last year to amend the provisions for exempt hunting so that farmers and gamekeepers could decide, based on the terrain and other circumstances, if it is appropriate to use more than two dogs to flush out foxes. Conservative Members would have received a free vote. However, the Scottish National Party announced, contrary to its long-held position and the fact that the amendments would have no impact on Scotland, that its MPs would vote on this measure. The vote did not therefore take place. While the Government's wider position remains unchanged: Parliament will have an opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, there seems little likelihood of this at the current time.
Though I myself have never hunted, as a Member of Parliament in a predominantly rural constituency I take my responsibility to protect the rural way of life very seriously. I believe that rural issues should be primarily decided on by people who live and work in the countryside in the same way that urban issues should primarily be decided on by people who live and work in urban areas. The very strong feeling I have received from many residents of Mid Worcestershire both before and since the election is that the Hunting Act has done little or nothing to protect animals - while also being widely perceived as an attack on the rural way of life.
Should the vote come up again I will be happy to hear arguments on both sides of the discussion again.
