John Major has launched an 11th-hour bid to torpedo the Government's hunting Bill.

The former Prime Minister was the first to sign a Reasoned Amendment drawn up by former Home Office Minister David Maclean.

This is a device used to kill off a Bill before it is debated in the Commons. But anti-hunt MPs have vowed to throw out the attempt by 11 former Conserv-ative ministers to cull the Bill.

Mr Major is expected to speak out against the Bill before its Second Reading in the Commons today, but it is likely to be voted through.

At Committee Stage in the New Year, MPs will be able to vote for a ban on foxhunting, a licensing system for the bloodsport or the existing self-regulation.

Home Secretary Jack Straw and at least two other Cabinet ministers are believed to be set to back the licensing system option proposed by the Middle Way Group. But Labour MPs are expected to overwhelmingly back a ban on hunting.

The legislation is likely to be blocked in the Lords at the time of the General Election, expected in May.

Ministers believe the spectacle of unelected peers, many of them Conservatives, defying the will of the Commons will stir apathetic Labour supporters into voting.

The Reasoned Amendment claims the Bill fails to tackle the "inadequacies" of animal welfare legislation, but would criminalise the activities of tens of thousands of law-abiding citizens.

newsdesk@ycp.co.uk