MPs are set for a showdown with the House Lords following last night's overwhelming vote to ban fox hunting.

Faced with "indicative votes" on three options - self-regulation, a licensing regime and a complete ban - Labour MPs strongly backed a ban on hunting with hounds in England and Wales.

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, director of the Countryside Alliance's campaign for hunting, told ePolitix.com: "It's no-change at half-time. The voting pattern was almost identical to the last time the Commons voted on this matter. However, despite the fact that Commons has not changed it's mind - the public clearly have! The electorate are no longer in favour of a ban and are sick and tired of this issue preventing Parliament from concentrating on more important issues.

"On the very day that this issue was debated, the government announced the biggest troop mobilisation since the Falklands conflict as well as disasterous performance figures for the railways. Yet, instead of concentrating on these 'bread and butter' issues, MPs are instead debating hunting - which is an obsession for a only few MPs and a tiny percentage of the population. Those MPs for whom this issue has become their raison d'etre are out of step with the countryside, out of step with their constituents and out of step with public opinion.

"It is ironic that a year after foot and mouth began to devastate rural Britain and cost many their livelihoods, the only thing that some MPs are interested in doing for the countryside is vote even more many more rural people out of their jobs.

"We hope however, that once the Lords have expressed their opinions tomorrow, that the government will bring forward a resolution which balances human rights and animal welfare - both of which would be jepordised by a ban on hunting".

Forum Response: RSPCA

A spokesperson for the RSPCA told ePolitix.com: "Last night's vote shows clearly that there is still an overwhelming Commons majority in favour of a ban, but everyone knew that already. The government must now get on with the job and ban hunting. The quickest way to do that is to reintroduce the Hunting Bill."