MP branded 'out of touch' (From Ealing Times)

MP branded 'out of touch'

11:47am Monday 3rd May 2004 in

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MP Stephen Pound has hit back at the Countryside Alliance after it branded him as "out of touch" for pushing the Government to tackle hunting.

The alliance spoke out after the Ealing MP signed an Early Day Motion, along with 29 other London MPs, for more time to be spent on the issue.

The Alliance say major issues like transport, education and policing are falling by the wayside.

But Mr Pound said: "Three days in six years discussing hunting in the House of Commons hardly means we are forgetting the other issues. That's complete nonsense."

Jill Grieve, alliance spokesman, said: "Hunting is largely irrelevant to London, but you would never know it judging by this latest move."

She said voters look at progress in major issues when they vote in MPs.

But Mr Pound said the majority of his constituents want to see hunting banned.

He said: "In every poll between 70 and 80 per cent of the public say they want to get rid of this barbaric practice. It demeans everyone in the country that we are still allowing it to go on. If the Countryside Alliance wants the will of the people to be heard then they should concede and give up instead of trying to stop it happening."

He is frustrated the Hunting Bill has not been passed, despite three votes on the issue in the House of Commons.

But he is optimistic since the MP Alun Michael, the rural affairs minister, announced the Parliament Act, which forces the vote back to the Commons if the Lords continually refuse it.

If the act is enforced that bill is expected to be passed into law by November this year.

The issue was due to be addressed by Tony Blair last week.

Mr Pound added: "The alliance are trying to cast it in a town versus country issue when it's not. It's about cruelty no matter where you are."