Fox hunting vote under threat

The Prime Minister Theresa May has been warned that she faces a backlash from rural communities such as Dartmoor if she scraps her pledge to give a free vote to MPs on overturning the hunting ban to woo urban voters.

This comes as the traditional Boxing Day hunts across Dartmoor and the South West took place. The Sunday Times has reported that Mrs May was preparing to drop the commitment in a speech in the New Year.

During the election Mrs May said: “Personally I have always been in favour of foxhunting and we maintain our commitment, we have had a commitment previously as a Conservative Party to allow a free vote.”

Tim Bonner CEO of the Countryside Alliance warned Mrs May that she risked alienating rural communities.

The labour Party have demanded that Michael Gove, the environment secretary, clarify whether the government still plans to give parliamentary time for a free Vote.

The Hunting Act was introduced by the Labour Party in 2004.