Newton Abbot people: Should the fox hunting ban be lifted?

The

unprecedented Conservative - Lib Dem coalition could see a lift on the

fox hunting ban.

Brought

in by Labour in 2005 the fox hunting ban has since been widely criticised,

especially in rural regions.

David Cameron has been very outspoken about his views

on the ban over the last couple of months and has confirmed that he plans to

hold a free vote on decriminalising hunting with dogs. Nick Clegg, although

apparently against fox hunting, has also stated that he will agree to holding

the vote.

Last month

David Cameron said: “I always thought the ban was a mistake because I think it

is very difficult to enforce.

"I

think it's somewhere where the criminal law shouldn't go. But it will be a free

vote.

"The

fox population has to be controlled. Every farmer will tell you that, and every

farmer will tell you that the methods now being used – gassing, shooting,

trapping and snaring, are very cruel. The case on animal welfare grounds for

the hunting ban I've always thought was very weak."

The League Against Cruel Sports has today published

its latest database of how MPs answered the question, "How would you

vote in a free vote to repeal the Hunting Act?"

Of the 491 MPs whose position is known, 56.3% are

opposed to repeal of the Act and 41.6% support repeal. Four MPs currently say

they would abstain and 5 are undecided.

Newly elected MP for Newton Abbot Anne-Marie Morris

is listed as supporting the repeal of the act.

In an

interview with BBC Radio 5 Mr Cameron revealed that his views on hunting could

have been shaped through his upbringing and country roots: "I'm a country

boy. I was brought up in the countryside and I love walking and riding and

every aspect of growing up in the countryside. I was taught to fish by a

wonderful grandfather. I was taught to shoot rabbits by my dad, and I went

hunting as well.

 "People

like riding across the countryside. Lots of people do it together. It's an

opportunity to see parts of the countryside you never see before. It's

something that happened in the countryside for a very many years.”

Do you

agree that there should be a free vote on fox hunting? Which way would you vote

and why?