An online petition has been circulating which aims to 'tell Neil Parish that his constituents don't want fox hunting legalised', despite him allegedly claiming that the ban on fox hunting might be repealed.

The petition was started yesterday (December 29) by Sarah Perris, with the caption: "On Boxing Day in Tiverton, Neil Parish stated he would look into repealing the laws against fox hunting.

"He is totally out of touch! A poll in December 2019 showed 79% of people want the laws tightened up to stop trail hunting.

"Tell Neil Parish his constituents don't support legalising fox hunting!"

At the point of publishing this story the petition has received almost 2,400 signatures.

Sarah Perris explains her motive for setting up the petition on the popular campaigning website change.org, stating that 'Neil Parish is totally out of touch with how people feel about fox hunting.'

She attributes the following quote to the MP for the Tiverton and Honiton constituency, which it is claimed he made at the Boxing Day meet in Tiverton:

"It's great to see you all, and we will take stock when we get back to Parliament.

"We'll take the numbers and see what to do about hunting.

"We will then talk to the hunting fraternity to work out precisely what you might like to have done either repealing the Hunting Act altogether or changing it."

Sarah Perris argues: "In fact rather than legalising hunting, as Neil Parish suggests, most people want the laws tightened up.

"Polling by YouGov in November 2019 found that 79 per cent of people believed the Hunting Act should be amended to ensure foxes are not killed by hunts claiming to be following trails."