A very organised unofficial whipping operation is underway for Wednesday’s free vote on hunting (first revealed by Melissa Kite in the Spectator last week). I understand that the Tories who are in favour of changing legislation so that hounds can be used to flush out foxes think they will win the vote if the SNP decide to take the unusual step of voting on the issue, which does not affect Scotland.
The pro-hunting camp believe they have around 285 MPs – mostly not exclusively Tory – on their side, and there are around 260 MPs across the Commons who will vote against the change. The most prominent among them is Tracey Crouch, who has been unusually vociferous in her opposition, given she is a minister. Normally ministers, who have as much freedom on conscience issues as any other MP, tend to stay reasonably quiet about their decision, choosing not to criticise the government while voting against the position it is encouraging.
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