Fox Hunting Vote Delayed

A planned vote tomorrow on whether to relax fox-hunting laws in England and Wales has been withdrawn following SNP opposition.

The UK government was facing a defeat, with Labour and the Nationalists both saying their MPs would block the amendment. 

It's been criticised because it would allow an unlimited amount of hounds to "flush out" the animals, before a farmer shoots them, which is the law in Scotland.

Conservatives had been given a free vote on the issue tomorrow.

Scottish National Party Westminster Leader Angus Robertson said: "It is welcome that this vote has been pulled - which also underlines the shambles of the Tory government, who have sounded the bugle of retreat.

"This is the fourth issue where the SNP Group have led the opposition in forcing the Tories into backing down - stopping the EU referendum being on the same day as the Scottish Parliament election, getting any moves to repeal the Human Rights Act kicked into the long grass, the debacle of the Government having to abandon last week's vote on English Votes for English Laws, and now stopping this week's vote to relax the fox hunting ban in England and Wales.

"This is another powerful reminder of just how fragile the Tories' majority is - on these four issues it was non-existent, they were staring defeat in the face, and there will be more such issues.

"And on the issue of EVEL, the UK Government should respond positively to the First Minister's letter and agree to sensible discussions on the basis of mutual respect  - rather than laying down the law to make Scotland's representation at Westminster second class.

"The SNP group are delivering on our pledge to help deliver progressive politics across the UK. We were fully prepared to vote with Labour to stop harm being done to foxes in England and Wales - Labour should now commit to voting with the SNP next week against harm being done to people by the Tories' cruel welfare cuts."