Nick Ansell/PA Archive
Environment secretary Liz Truss has said she would vote to bring back fox hunting, however she may have to wait a while as a Bill to repeal the ban was not included in today's Queen's Speech.
David Cameron promised in his general election manifesto to give MPs a free vote "with a government bill in
government time" on repealing the ban brought in by Labour in 2004.
But Tory MPs, who have long agitated for the ban to be lifted, look unlikely to be given that vote in the coming year. Instead the prime minister said the new laws proposed today were part of a "clear programme for working people".
Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning whether she would vote to bring back hunting with dogs, Truss said she would.
"It is absolutely a commitment that we will hold a free vote of parliament – it will be a government bill in government time. It’s a free vote, so MPs can vote as they see fit. It has always been a matter for a free vote," she said.
"I would vote in favour of repeal. It’s a matter for them, and it’s a matter for MPs. The whole point of a free vote is they are free to choose how they vote. I have been very clear about the way I would vote."
Any move to bring back fox hunting would likely face stiff opposition from Labour MPs as well as Tory backbenchers who favour a ban.
State opening of Parliament
The State Opening Of Parliament(01 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrives for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament on May 27, 2015 in London, England. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of the State Opening and is expected to see promise of an EU referendum, tax cuts and an extension of Right to Buy in the in the first all-Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996. (Photo by Carl Court-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(02 of28)
LONDON - ENGLAND - MAY 27: Members of the House of Lords (L) watch members of the Yeoman warders take part in the traditional ceremonial search of the chambers prior to the start of the annual State opening of parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pohle/WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(03 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrives for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament on May 27, 2015 in London, England. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of the State Opening and is expected to see promise of an EU referendum, tax cuts and an extension of Right to Buy in the in the first all-Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996. (Photo by Carl Court-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(04 of28)
LONDON - ENGLAND - MAY 27: Members of the House of Lords (L) and a policeman watch members of the Yeoman warders take part in the traditional ceremonial search of the chambers prior to the start of the annual State opening of parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pohle/WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(05 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (L), arrives for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament on May 27, 2015 in London, England. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of the State Opening and is expected to see promise of an EU referendum, tax cuts and an extension of Right to Buy in the in the first all-Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996. (Photo by Carl Court-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(06 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: A carriage carrying a crown leaves Buckingham Palace to travel to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(07 of28)
LONDON - ENGLAND - MAY 27: Members of the House of Lords (L) watch members of the Yeoman warders take part in the traditional ceremonial search of the chambers prior to the start of the annual State opening of parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pohle/WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(08 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrives for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament on May 27, 2015 in London, England. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of the State Opening and is expected to see promise of an EU referendum, tax cuts and an extension of Right to Buy in the in the first all-Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996. (Photo by Carl Court-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(09 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave Buckingham Palace to travel to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(10 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (R) , arrives for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament on May 27, 2015 in London, England. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of the State Opening and is expected to see promise of an EU referendum, tax cuts and an extension of Right to Buy in the in the first all-Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996. (Photo by Carl Court-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(11 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave Buckingham Palace to travel to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(12 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to travel to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(13 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to travel to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(14 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Household Cavalry outside Buckingham Palace during State Opening of Parliament on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(15 of28)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to travel to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
The State Opening Of Parliament(16 of28)
LONDON - ENGLAND - MAY 27: Members of the House of Lords including Lord Michael Grade (L) gather to watch the ceremonial search ahead of the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on May 27, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pohle/WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
Britain Queen's Speech(17 of28)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Imperial State Crown is driven by carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament during the State Opening of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. After his surprise election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is laying out plans for government free of coalition compromises. Cameron says Wednesday's Queen's Speech will deliver a "One Nation" platform to unite the country, but opponents say the Conservatives' hard-line policies could weaken the United Kingdom and take it out of the European Union. (Neil Hall/Pool Photo, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Queen's Speech(18 of28)
Yeoman of the Guard pass through the Peer's Lobby during the ceremonial search ahead of the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London Wednesday May 27, 2015. After his surprise election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is laying out plans for government free of coalition compromises. Cameron says Wednesday's Queen's Speech will deliver a "One Nation" platform to unite the country, but opponents say the Conservatives' hard-line policies could weaken the United Kingdom and take it out of the European Union. (John Stillwell/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Queen's Speech(19 of28)
Yeoman of the Guard pass through the Peer's Lobby during the ceremonial search ahead of the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London Wednesday May 27, 2015. After his surprise election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is laying out plans for government free of coalition compromises. Cameron says Wednesday's Queen's Speech will deliver a "One Nation" platform to unite the country, but opponents say the Conservatives' hard-line policies could weaken the United Kingdom and take it out of the European Union. (John Stillwell/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(20 of28)
Prime Minister David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street, in Westminster, London, to attend the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(21 of28)
Soldiers march down The Mall, London, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(22 of28)
Yeoman of the Guard pass through the Peer's Lobby during the ceremonial search ahead of the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(23 of28)
Workers on The Mall, London, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(24 of28)
Police outside Buckingham Palace, London, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(25 of28)
Security on the roof of Buckingham Palace, London, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(26 of28)
Traffic lights are removed on The Mall, London, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(27 of28)
The Royal Horse Artillery make their way in front of Buckingham Palace, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
State Opening of Parliament 2015(28 of28)
Soldiers on The Mall, London, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)