Cameron promises vote on hunting
Friday, 16 April 2010 12:00 AM
by politics.co.uk staff
David Cameron has reiterated his opposition to the fox-hunting ban but said he will not whip MPs to repeal the law.
He has promised a free vote on the issue in the event of a Conservative government.
The Conservative leader, who has described himself as a "country boy", said: "My personal view is that the ban doesn't work. We just have police officers wasting their time chasing people round the countryside when they should be dealing with real crime on our streets.
"I think we should respect what people in the countryside believe. I always opposed the ban. The fox population has to be controlled. I don't think there's any evidence that gassing, snaring and shooting are fairer ways of controlling the fox population."
The ban on hunting with dogs came into force five years ago.
Newsletter sign up