Former shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe has called on the government to stop "shilly-shallying" and proceed with a bill to ban foxhunting.

The former Conservative leadership contender accused the government of introducing the original hunting bill only when it was too late to pass through parliament. Her comments came as protestors planned to hold up a banner in Westminster listing the 412 MPs who support such a ban.

Speaking to BBC Radio on Wednesday, Widdecombe said: "I think the government is nervous about a ban and that's really what today is all about."

"If it is honest about wanting to see this issue resolved then it will bring forward an opportunity early in this parliament."

An early decision on foxhunting has been requested by 225 Labour MPs, nervous that post-September 11 legislation could delay the bill further. However, leader of the Commons Robin Cook has denied that the bill has been dropped altogether.

Lady Mallalieu, president of the Countryside Alliance, said the government's inaction on the bill showed that it had its "finger on the pulse" of public opinion as more pressing bills are passed. However, she said that she would welcome a resolution of the issue.

"I would like to see at some point a resolution of this because I think we are all sick of these bruising arguments which do not actually do any good," she said.