Ministers will not let Lords block Bill on fox hunting

The Government will signal its willingness to use the Parliament Act to force a ban on fox hunting through the House of Lords if the Commons backs its Bill on the issue.

An official policy document, expected to be approved by the Labour Party conference today, would stop any attempt by pro-hunting peers to halt the Bill's passage through the House of Lords.

The policy will be quietly pushed through the conference as part of a paper from the official Quality of Life policy commission, and will delight Labour delegates who are growing increasingly frustrated over lack of progress on a hunting ban.

But the move will worry hunting campaigners who are banking on the House of Lords once again rallying to their defence when a Bill to curb hunting is introduced.

Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said that the Labour party has "made its collective view clear on hunting".

He added: "Party members are right to insist the democratically elected government overrules the unelected House of Lords on hunting."