This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33520547

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hunting vote delayed after SNP U-turn Fox-hunting: SNP forces Cameron to delay planned Commons vote
(35 minutes later)
A vote on relaxing the Hunting Act planned for Wednesday has been postponed after the SNP said it would oppose the changes. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has told David Cameron he is "not master of all he surveys" after her party forced a delay in a planned fox-hunting vote.
New restrictions on Scottish MPs' voting rights on non-Scottish issues could now be introduced first. The prime minister wanted to hold a Commons vote on relaxing hunting laws in England and Wales on Wednesday.
The Hunting Act changes apply to England and Wales only - something the SNP had said it would not vote on. But the government announced the vote would be delayed after the SNP said it would take part.
Nicola Sturgeon's change of heart meant David Cameron's hunting law plan would not get through the Commons. The party had previously said it would not vote on issues affecting England and Wales only.
A Downing Street source said: "This happened because Nicola Sturgeon has done a 180-degree U-turn.A Downing Street source said: "This happened because Nicola Sturgeon has done a 180-degree U-turn.
"Her actions speak for themselves. That's why we are in the position we are in.""Her actions speak for themselves. That's why we are in the position we are in."
But Ms Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister and SNP leader suggested the prime minister's slender majority was behind the move. 'Slender majority'
Earlier she had explained her party's decision to take part in the vote, saying there had been "overwhelming demand" from people in England. The government now plans to tighten up restrictions on Scottish MPs voting on matters in England and Wales before holding a vote on hunting regulations.
Ms Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister, said the decision to delay the hunting vote showed "David Cameron can't carry his own parliamentary group", and that he only had a "slender and fragile" majority.
She said he had also been forced to pull his English votes for English laws plans, showing that he was "not master of all he surveys in the House of Commons".
She said if he "had any sense", he would come back with proposals based on "fairness and reasonableness" that "work in both directions".
Earlier she had explained her party's decision to take part in the hunting vote, saying there had been "overwhelming demand" from people in England.
Another reason, she said, was because David Cameron was making Scottish MPs "second-class citizens" in the House of Commons.Another reason, she said, was because David Cameron was making Scottish MPs "second-class citizens" in the House of Commons.
The government plans to change Commons rules to allow English, or English and Welsh, MPs a "decisive say" on legislation only applying there.The government plans to change Commons rules to allow English, or English and Welsh, MPs a "decisive say" on legislation only applying there.
However, this may not prevent SNP MPs from voting against the changes.
Under the latest "English votes" plans, the statutory instrument ministers want to use to change the law would require the support of the whole of the House of Commons.
The government's decision to reschedule the vote came as anti-hunting protesters gathered at the Houses of Parliament to protest against changing the law.The government's decision to reschedule the vote came as anti-hunting protesters gathered at the Houses of Parliament to protest against changing the law.
Hunting poll
The changes would have brought the Hunting Act in line with Scotland, where an unlimited number of dogs can be used to "flush out" a fox to be shot, compared to just two in England and Wales.The changes would have brought the Hunting Act in line with Scotland, where an unlimited number of dogs can be used to "flush out" a fox to be shot, compared to just two in England and Wales.
But the 56 SNP MPs, plus Labour and some Conservative MPs opposed to hunting, meant the government's change stood little chance of being approved in Wednesday's free vote.But the 56 SNP MPs, plus Labour and some Conservative MPs opposed to hunting, meant the government's change stood little chance of being approved in Wednesday's free vote.
The SNP says it will now consider tightening the law in Scotland to match England and Wales.The SNP says it will now consider tightening the law in Scotland to match England and Wales.
Maria Eagle, Labour's shadow environment secretary, said: "David Cameron is now running scared because he knew he was going to lose the vote on fox-hunting."Maria Eagle, Labour's shadow environment secretary, said: "David Cameron is now running scared because he knew he was going to lose the vote on fox-hunting."
Meanwhile, a poll for the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show has suggested almost three in four British adults are against making fox hunting legal.
The poll, conducted by ComRes, asked 1,005 people if the practice "should or should not be made legal again?".