Hunting ban to remain for now
Senior Conservatives have signalled that a repeal on the law against hunting with dogs is unlikely in the near future, despite a coalition pledge for a free vote.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said that a free vote to lift the ban would currently have no chance of winning.
Grant Chapps, the party's chairman, has agreed it would be defeated in parliament by opposition.
It has been illegal to hunt animals using dogs in Scotland since 2002, and in England and Wales since 2005. On December 17, 2012, the RSPCA prosecuted its first ever traditional hunt for operating illegally.
Despite a free vote on the issue being included in the coalition agreement, Mr paterson said hunting hasn't been a feature of the current parliament.
"At the moment, it would not be my proposal to bring forward a vote we are going to lose," he said.
Backing these comments, Mr Shapps, added: "As Owen Patterson said, it makes sense to bring something forward if you think there's a chance of there being a Parliamentary majority.
"At the moment there doesn't appear to be one."
On Boxing day, more than 300 hunts met. They are legally obliged to no longer use dogs in chasing foxes and, instead, must use different techniques such as drag hunting.
Animal welfare charities, including the RSPCA, have funded research that suggests only 15 per cent of people are in favour of scrapping the ban.
Furthermore, Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh has responded that "most people" back Labour's ban on hunting wild animals with dogs.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
