Turncoat Tory's pro hunt past

Publicly, Labour MPs were only too pleased to rub salt in the Tory wounds as Mr Jackson's move threatened to overshadow Conservative policy announcements.

But, behind the scenes, many expressed bemusement at his timing - so close to a general election - and joined the Tories in questioning his motives.

Not content to take it lying down, Peter Luff has also been pressing home a sore point for Labour MPs - Mr Jackson's pro-hunting credentials.

The turncoat Tory has made no secret of his opposition to the hunting ban so beloved of Worcester MP Mike Foster and his friends on the Labour benches.

In his maiden speech as a Labour MP, Mr Jackson even accused Ministers of destroying goodwill in the countryside by forcing the ban into law last November.

Mr Luff, a Tory whip, said: "I've been teasing all my Labour friends about this, that they've got themselves a new pro-hunting MP. They're not terribly amused."

Lib Dem research

THE activities of Wychavon Liberal Democrats have attracted the attentions of Peter Luff.

The group has apparently been distributing a survey in his constituency asking residents about matters of local concern.

Among them are questions asking whether their Mid-Worcestershire MP was doing enough to fight for a new hospital for Evesham and fairer funding for local schools.

Mr Luff has correspondingly written to the group expressing interest in their findings.

"I am intrigued to see the document issued by Tom Beam, Margaret Rowley and the local Liberal Democrats - the Littletons County Council Division Community Survey," he wrote.

"As at least two of these questions refer directly to me, I hope you will be kind enough to share with me the results of the survey."

Mr Luff told me he appreciated that they were undertaking market research on his behalf.

He said: "I'm sure since the questions relate to me, they won't mind sharing the findings.

"If they don't, I might have to cite the Data Protection Act."