Labour must "bite the bullet" and ban fox hunting or the issue will become a "running sore" in the next Parliament, former sports minister Mr Tony Banks warned yesterday. He said British Home Secretary Mr Jack Straw had been disappointing on the issue as he supported the compromise option of licensing hunting.
This was in contrast to shadow home secretary Ms Ann Widdecombe, who favoured a ban, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
MPs had voted to outlaw hunting, while the Lords voted to allow it to continue but the Hunting Bill "died" when the general election was called.
Mr Banks said the statement in Labour's manifesto that "if the issue continues to be blocked we will look at how the disagreement can be resolved," indicated the government would be prepared to push the Bill into law.
"It is quite clear to me, the words mean we will use the Parliament Act. Jack (Straw) is a dear old fellow, and I love him dearly but I have to say that on this issue, he's been a bit of a disappointment.
"Ann Widdecombe has been far stronger on the issue. Jack has not been in favour of a ban and he tried to go for this so-called middle way, which frankly will neither satisfy the Countryside Alliance nor the anti-hunt campaign and under the circumstances he is still thrashing around, hoping this can be done in a nice easy way.
"But it can't be done, the party has to bite the bullet on this, otherwise the question of a hunting ban will be a running sore in the new Parliament and will disappoint large numbers of our people both inside and outside of Parliament.
