Labour MP Paul Flynn has accused a Conservative MP of having a "passion" for animal abuse.

Speaking during a Commons debate on the lobbying industry, Newport West MP Paul Flynn tackled Simon Hart over his previous job as campaigns director and CEO for the Countryside Alliance - which lobbied against the fox hunting ban.

"I am grateful to hear from a former lobbyist," he said after Hart intervened on his speech attacking the lobbying industry. "I believe that the hon. Gentleman’s previous career was lobbying for the abuse of small, loveable animals for fun—that was his message."

"I am sure that he would have found a welcome in the current government if he was still lobbying for animal abuse, which is what he believes in and is his passion," he said.

Hart had told Flynn that not all lobbying firms were bad.

"We have to be careful that we do not say, 'A plague on all your houses'," he said. "Some constituency lobbying is extremely valuable, informative and educational, and we should encourage it."

Flynn has a history of outspoken comments. In August his book of advice for backbench MPs contained gems such as how to cope with the "sexual magnetism" that being elected to parliament entails.