TORY plans to repeal the ban on hunting foxes with hounds, as pledged by Theresa May and her abortive rival Andrea Leadsom, should be thrown out, a former supporter of the barbaric pastime has said.

Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has called on Prime Minister Theresa May not to repeal the ban, saying the Tories should “move on.”

Sir Ranulph, 72, who once marched with the pro-hunting Countryside Alliance, said Tory voters’ views had changed since the Hunting Act 2004 was introduced and urged the party to focus on other rural issues like housing and support for farmers.

Both the new PM, Theresa May, and her erstwhile rival Andrea Leadsom claimed that they wished to repeal the ban on bloodsports, seeing it as a vote-winner in the Tory heartlands.

But in his letter, released by the League Against Cruel Sports, Sir Ranulph said: “The beliefs of conservatives and countryfolk across Britain on the issue of hunting have changed since the Hunting Act was brought in.”

He went on to say that: “The Hunting Act was brought into being because the British public believed that the use of packs of hounds to kill foxes for ‘sport’ had no place in a British society that considered itself civilised, and that the practice should go the same way as bear-baiting and cock-fighting.

“Since then, public opinion has only become increasingly clear on the subject.”

In his letter, Sir Ranulph cited an opinion poll showing 84 per cent of people in the countryside and 70 per cent of Tory voters were against repealing the hunting ban, adding that 50 of the party’s MPs now openly supported the legislation, compared with four when it was introduced.