MPs will vote on changes to the laws on fox hunting in England and Wales on Wednesday, the government has said.
They will debate bringing existing practice in England and Wales "into line" with that in Scotland.
If passed, it will allow more dogs to be used to flush out foxes to be shot.
Labour accused ministers of trying to "wreck" the hunting ban - but the government said it was "responding to the legitimate concerns" of hill farmers.
The Conservatives made a manifesto pledge to allow a free vote on repealing the ban on hunting with dogs which came into force in 2005 under the last Labour government.
'Backdoor device'
But the government has opted instead to give MPs a 90 minute debate and a free vote on "technical" changes to the Hunting Act, using a Parliamentary procedure known as a statutory instrument.
Shadow Commons Leader Angela Eagle accused the government of trying to "wreck" the Hunting Act "using this backdoor device because they don't have the majority to repeal the Act or the guts to try".
Why do they need a pack of dogs to chase a fox out so they can shoot it? Surely a pack of dogs will get in the way (more than the current limit of 2) before the so called brave hunter can shoot it, so the dogs will rip the fox to bits anyway. Whether fox are vermin or not they deserve to die humanely not used for sport to be ripped to death by a pack of dogs. What next 30 horse riders to back the dogs up in case the fox pulls a flick knife? Pathetic.
They will debate bringing existing practice in England and Wales "into line" with that in Scotland.
If passed, it will allow more dogs to be used to flush out foxes to be shot.
Labour accused ministers of trying to "wreck" the hunting ban - but the government said it was "responding to the legitimate concerns" of hill farmers.
The Conservatives made a manifesto pledge to allow a free vote on repealing the ban on hunting with dogs which came into force in 2005 under the last Labour government.
'Backdoor device'
But the government has opted instead to give MPs a 90 minute debate and a free vote on "technical" changes to the Hunting Act, using a Parliamentary procedure known as a statutory instrument.
Shadow Commons Leader Angela Eagle accused the government of trying to "wreck" the Hunting Act "using this backdoor device because they don't have the majority to repeal the Act or the guts to try".
Why do they need a pack of dogs to chase a fox out so they can shoot it? Surely a pack of dogs will get in the way (more than the current limit of 2) before the so called brave hunter can shoot it, so the dogs will rip the fox to bits anyway. Whether fox are vermin or not they deserve to die humanely not used for sport to be ripped to death by a pack of dogs. What next 30 horse riders to back the dogs up in case the fox pulls a flick knife? Pathetic.
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