Hunting ban moves closer

SPECULATION IS growing that a Bill banning fox hunting will be pushed through before the next general election, reports The Times.

Several high profile ministers, including one cabinet member, have told the Prime Minister that their position will be untenable if a bill is not agreed by the end of this term.

According to the paper, the government is preparing to rush a Bill through the House of Commons, possibly in a single day between Sept 13 and 15.

There is a short gap between MPs returning from the summer recess and breaking up for the party conference season.

The proposed legislation would then be passed to the House of Lords in October.

Should the Lords block the Bill, as they have previously, the government is preparing to invoke the Parliament Act in order to ensure the bill becomes law, says the paper.