Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, responding to reports on fox hunting, said:

“The biggest issue facing our rural communities is the cost of living crisis caused by falling incomes and rising prices, yet the Tories are yet again obsessing about hunting.

“David Cameron should be focusing on tackling rising energy prices, delivering broadband and protecting rural bus services, instead of yet again demonstrating how completely out of touch he is with the lives of ordinary people.

“Ministers are kidding themselves if they think there is a cross-party consensus on hunting. If the Tories insist on trying to change the law, they will find that they simply don’t have the votes in parliament.”