Opponents claim the Bill is "dead in the water"

Anti-Hunt MP Still Confident

The Worcester MP, Mike Foster, has published the principles behind his Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill and promised widespread consultation on the details of the final version.

But the Government has repeatedly indicated that it will not go out of its way to find extra time for the private measure in the busy parliamentary timetable. Nevertheless, Mr Foster refused to be downbeat about the Bill's prospects. "I have no regrets whatsoever about bringing this very important animal welfare issue to the fore", he said.

Mike Foster: "I have no regrets"

He refused to be drawn into criticism of Peter Mandelson. The Minister without Portfolio said the Bill should never have been brought forward given the Government's heavy legislative programme.

Instead, Mr Foster looked forward to seeing Mr Mandelson in the voting lobby: "This is not a Government Bill, it's a Private Members' Bill and I'm looking to attract support, not only from Peter Mandelson, but from all MPs in the country."

The Bill faces major opposition from hunting interests. A rally against the Bill in Hyde Park in London earlier this month attracted 100,000 people from across the country.

The hunting lobby believe the Government was rattled by the large turn out and will now deny the Bill the help it needs to succeed. Janet George of the Countryside Alliance said the Bill was now "dead in the water," and she rejected Mr Foster's consultation process as a sham.

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