Theresa May is to abandon a manifesto pledge to overturn the ban on foxhunting as she seeks to rebrand the Conservatives as a “caring” party.
In a move certain to infuriate many of the party’s rural supporters — and split its MPs — she will announce plans to drop the commitment permanently early in 2018.
The disclosure comes two days before the Boxing Day meets, the biggest of the year, when 250,000 people are expected to gather at hunts nationwide.
May’s move follows a fierce voter backlash, especially among young people, against her pro-hunting policy in this year’s general election.
A Survation poll taken days before the election found that 67% of voters believed foxhunting should remain illegal. Half said they would be less likely