Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary, responding to reports that David Cameron is seeking to use a statutory instrument to water down the ban on fox hunting:

“David Cameron is resorting to desperate measures to bring back fox hunting. The Tories had to abandon their plans to bring forward a free vote in the last parliament because they knew they’d lose and today’s news shows they still don’t have the numbers.

“David Cameron’s proposals have more to do with controlling his back benchers than fox numbers in the countryside and Labour will oppose any such measures.

“The Tories should be focussing on the real issues facing rural communities like low-wages and a lack of affordable and adequate transport and housing.”