An NOP poll commissioned by the Countryside Alliance has found that only one per cent of Labour supporters want to see hunting made a main priority.

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "Anti-hunting Labour MPs have suggested that a ban on hunting would motivate their voters and the party faithful - this is clearly nonsense when 99 per cent of Labour voters have other priorities. The real fact is that these MPs' own supporters think that they should be putting the NHS, Education, Iraq and Immigration well above hunting on the political agenda.

"The House of Commons seems to be the only place left where a ban on hunting is considered either important or desirable. The continuing obsession of some backbench Labour MPs with this issue will only add to the impression that politicians are out of touch with ordinary voters - and they risk making their government look completely ridiculous".

Forum Response: International Fund for Animal Welfare

Phyllis Campbell-McRae, director of IFAW UK, told ePolitix.com: “The MPs who want a ban on the cruel and barbaric ‘sport’ of hunting with dogs are reflecting the views of the majority of the British public – 76 per cent of whom think that hunting should be illegal.