The League Against Cruel Sports has welcomed the U-turn by Theresa May over her promise of an MP’s vote on overturning the ban on using dogs for hunting wild animals in England and Wales. The ban was introduced by the Hunting Act 2004, and by the Labour government of the time.

Mrs May, a supporter of foxhunting, said she had heard “the clear message” that most voters did not support the “sport” and said that there would be “No vote in this parliament”.

The League Against Cruel Sports commented that “the Government now accepts that cruel sports should no longer be a part of 21st century society”.