Steve Brine, Martin Tod and Patrick Davies take part in public debate (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Steve Brine, Martin Tod and Patrick Davies take part in public debate

1:10pm Monday 8th March 2010 in

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WINCHESTER’S three would-be MPs were quizzed by countryside campaigners and farmers at a public debate, just months before the general election.

The event at a packed Northbrook Hall in Micheldever on Monday was chaired by the BBC’s deputy political editor, James Landale, who asked the prospective parliamentary candidates if they supported overturning the ban on fox hunting.

The sport of hunting with dogs has been illegal for five years, but it remains a controversial issue.

Conservative Steve Brine said party leader David Cameron had promised a free vote on the subject.

Mr Brine said the Hunting Act was “bad law” and he “would be minded to repeal”.

Liberal Democrat candidate Martin Tod said he was “torn” and more concerned about other animal welfare issues.

He said: “I am a middle way person.” Mr Tod said he was aware foxes were considered “vermin and going to get it — the question is how”.

Meanwhile, Labour’s Patrick Davies said: “Enough time has been spent on this and I think it would be madness to repeal.”

The debate was held at the annual general meeting of the Dever Society, a campaign group set up 20 years ago to fight Eagle Star’s plans to build a new town at Micheldever Station.

All three candidates reaffirmed their opposition to a new town — a plan thrown out by ministers and council planning chiefs.

The trio were also asked by the society’s chairman, Douglas Paterson, for their views on the culling of badgers to prevent TB in cattle.

Mr Paterson, who farms 2,200 acres between Sutton Scotney and Micheldever Station, said the spread of the disease had been “devastating” to farmers and millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money wasted in compensation paid to them after cattle were killed.

Mr Tod said his knowledge was limited on the subject, but he would support the science, to which Mr Paterson replied it was “political science”.

Mr Brine said the Tories would introduce targeted badger culls, while Labour’s Mr Davies said he had no knowledge of the issue.

On planning, both the Tory and Liberal Democrat candidates said their parties opposed “top-down planning” and centrally-imposed targets for the number of new homes to be built. Their parties would return strategic planning powers to local councils.

Mr Davies warned abolishing all national and regional guidance would lead to “appalling chaos”.

He said: “We desperately need more housing in this country, the argument is where to put it.”