Hunting ban ex-MP Mike Foster finds dead fox on drive

Parliament voted to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales in September 2004

An ex-MP and campaigner against hunting with dogs said he had found a dead fox on his driveway, two days before a parliamentary vote on easing the ban.

Former Worcester Labour MP Mike Foster, who found the fox as he returned home from work on Tuesday, said it was "perhaps more than a coincidence".

Mr Foster tried unsuccessfully to ban hunting through a Private Member's Bill in 1997.

He said he did not know how the vixen had died.

Mr Foster found no obvious signs of wounds or markings when he picked it up to dispose of it.

"It just struck me that two days before a debate on hunting with dogs should be brought back, it was perhaps more than a coincidence that there was a fox on my drive," he said.

"But, ultimately it might be a stroke of misfortune for that particular vixen that just died on my drive."

In July 1999, former prime minister Tony Blair announced that he planned to make fox-hunting illegal.

Parliament voted by 356 votes to 166 to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales in September 2004.

MPs are to be given a free vote on changes to the law on fox-hunting in England and Wales on Wednesday. The debate is to focus on amending, rather than repealing the Hunting Act.

However, the vote has now been postponed.

It follows the Scottish National Party (SNP) saying it would oppose the changes, which would mean almost certain defeat for the government.

Mr Foster lost his seat to Conservative Robin Walker in the 2010 general election.