SNP vows to vote against Tory plan to water down hunt ban

The Snp has vowed to vote down proposed changes to the fox hunting ban in england in revenge for the Tories curbing its Mps’ voting rights.

angus Robertson, the party’s leader in Westminster, accused the ‘arrogant’ Government of treating Scots as second-class citizens by proposing to introduce english Votes for english laws.

Tomorrow’s vote will consider whether to water down the ban on traditional fox hunting with dogs. currently in england and Wales, only two dogs can be used to flush out a fox so that a farmer or landowner can shoot it.

now Mps have to decide whether to bring legislation into line with Scotland, where an unlimited number of dogs can be used.

But nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, has unveiled a review of Scottish hunting laws, fuelling speculation that the Snp might vote on the ban in england.

The party met for nearly two hours in Westminster late last night, with Miss Sturgeon in the room. She insisted earlier she would not tell her Mps how to vote on hunting, but said there would be a ‘definitive’ position.

The decision will be a coup for alex Salmond, who had been urging his party leadership to let its Mps vote.

Their position overturns the Snp’s previous vow not to intervene in legislation that does not affect Scotland. and they risk charges of hypocrisy because the proposal for hunts in england and Wales mimics the rules in force in Scotland.

The nationalists will also vote against the Tory welfare cuts next week, and yesterday demanded the lifting of restrictions on students staying in the UK after their courses.

an Snp source said: ‘alex has been leading the charge on this. They [the government] don’t respect us, so why should we respect them? We represent nearly all Scottish seats but we have been ignored and undermined with evel, the Scotland Bill and the Budget.’ one Tory backbencher supporting the hunting change said Snp voting against would ‘enrage’ the Tory party.

labour is opposing the hunting change and Tory Mps have been given a free vote. Tory supporters think they have a majority in favour of the vote of around 30, excluding the Scottish nationalists. Some 15 or so Tory Mps are expected to vote against the change, meaning the Snp’s 56 Mps could defeat the plans if they all vote against.

But a source added that even if the nationalists vote down the changes they could be brought back once the english-only voting powers were in force.

asked whether David cameron believes Snp Mps should vote on the matter, the prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘he thinks that this is about measures for england and Wales and it is about bringing them in line with Scotland.’ Responding to a scenario where the Snp did vote on hunting, the spokesman said: ‘I expect that they would need to set out their rationale if they were to pursue such a course in Scotland.’