WEST Somerset MP Tom King has branded Wednesday's House of Commons vote to ban hunting with dogs "a cynical political exercise".

He said the result came as no surprise but warned that any move to make hunting illegal would "set town against country".

MPs voted by 387 to 174 for an outright ban on hunting with dogs. They had earlier rejected two other proposals - for hunting to continue with self-regulation and for all hunts to be licensed.

However, the pro-hunt lobby was confident the vote would not make it into law before the next General Election, which is expected to be called for May 3.

The Bill needs to go before the House of Lords in order to be given Royal Assent before Parliament is dissolved.

Anti bloodsport campaigners were confident Labour would be voted back in for a second term and would make it a manifesto pledge to ban hunting with dogs.

Mr King said: "This whole exercise is pretty cynical as no-one expects it to go through. There's no time for this before an election in May. It was nothing more than an opportunity to let backbenchers take a vote.

"One thing that was clear was that many MPs had not begun to understand the seriousness and the issues involved with passing such a law, which would subsequently extend criminal law and would deprive thousands of people of their livelihoods.

"There is absolutely no question that if hunting goes, shooting will be next and even possibly fishing."

Mr King accused the Government of simply trying to find extra work for the police at a time when there was a nationwide shortage of officers.

He added: "I understand entirely that a lot of people don't like hunting and disapprove of it, but there are others who strongly support it.

"This vote won't affect the welfare of animals - if hunting is banned, they will simply be shot instead."

The pro-hunting lobby group the Countryside Alliance said its members were saddened but not surprised by the vote.

Chairman Richard Burge said he was confident the House of Lords would stand in the way of the Bill becoming law.

He said: "We are confident that the Upper House will do its constitutional duty and protect the people from the exercise of Parliamentary prejudice.

"We trust the Lords will uncompromisingly reject any attempt to ban hunting and hope that this will force MPs into reflecting on the intolerant and unpleasant nature of their obsession with a ban."

The League Against Cruel Sports, which has an office in Dulverton, was equally confident that the death-knell had finally been sounded for the hunt fraternity.

A spokesman said: "In general, the league welcomes the vote as we believe hunting with dogs is on its last legs and we think this is the first step to an outright ban.

"We know the process could be held up in the Lords and by a general election, but we think Labour will include a ban in their manifesto and will be voted back in to ban hunting by the autumn of 2002."