THE possibility the ban on fox hunting could be lifted is rising with most political commentators predicting David Cameron will be Prime Minister after the General Election.

Mr Cameron has already vowed he would give a free vote on the subject if he was to make it to Number 10.

He has openly defended hunting as an opportunity for people to socialise and see parts of the countryside they had not seen before.

He also claims it was no more cruel than other methods of controlling the fox population.

“I always thought that the ban was a mistake because I think it is very difficult to enforce,’’ he said. “I think it’s somewhere the criminal law shouldn’t go.

“I’m a country boy. I was brought up in the countryside and I love walking and riding and every aspect of growing up in the countryside. I was taught to fish by a wonderful grandfather. I was taught to shoot rabbits by my dad and I went hunting as well.

“Lots of people do it together. It’s an opportunity to see parts of the countryside you’ve never seen before. It’s something that happened in the countryside for a very many years.

“The fox population has to be controlled. Every farmer will tell you that and every farmer will tell you that the methods now being used – gassing, shooting, trapping and snaring – are very cruel.

“The case on animal welfare grounds for the hunting ban I’ve always thought was very weak.”

Meryl Walmsley, secretary of the 150-member strong Colne Valley Beagles, said she would welcome the ban being lifted.

“We were devastated by it, it was an attack on our way of life,” she said.

And Ms Walmsley said hunting was misunderstood by the urban population.

“People should come and see it for themselves,’’ she said. “Most of us are there to watch the hounds work. It’s a way of life. There’s far more to it than just catching a fox.”

Parliamentary candidates vying to represent the Colne Valley constituency – which also hosts the Rockwood Hunt – remain split on the matter.

Conservative candidate Jason McCartney, said: “I believe the Hunting Act has proved unworkable and it should be repealed to be replaced by a system that ensures the welfare of all animals.”

But Labour candidate Debbie Abrahams said the law was fine as it was.

“I want it to be retained,’’ she said. “There’s always going to be problems around enforcing this type of legislation, but I think the principal of not supporting hunting as a sport is very important.”

Nicola Turner, the Liberal Democrat candidate, claimed that fox hunting had actually increased.

She said: “My view is that the hunting with dogs act is an ill thought out piece of legislation that hasn’t worked.

“There’s more fox hunting now than there was before the ban came into force.

“I live in a rural area. The fox population has been completely decimated and we’re overrun with rats and rabbits.

“But I wouldn’t vote to repeal the law unless there was something better to replace it.”

Jackie Grunsell, who is standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – a new party formed for the 2010 election – said she would oppose repealing the ban.

“I’m opposed to fox hunting with hounds so I would opposed to the repealing of the ban,’’ she said.

“I don’t think the ban works but I think repealing it sends out the wrong message. I do think there should be measures put in place to find better ways of enforcing it.

“If people want to hunt they can engage in drag hunting.

“I think it’s pretty barbaric when it comes to killing a fox for sport. It’s never been an effective way to keep the fox population down so I think that excuse is redundant and people should be prosecuted if they get caught.”