THE Government's promise of a vote on a possible repeal of the hunting ban is set to be dropped from the Queen's Speech.

In a sign that the policy — a key plank of the Conservative election pitch for rural votes — has been shelved, government sources admit that it is "no longer a priority".

When the coalition sets out its legislative programme on Tuesday, the promised motion on whether there should be a vote on repeal will not be included as part of the upcoming work of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Using dogs to hunt foxes and deer been banned since 2005 under the Hunting Act 2004.

But Tory leader David Cameron has previously warned it "is a bad piece of legislation and we would be better off without it".

Foreign Secretary William Hague has also said it is a "bad law", which was "deeply prejudiced" and "ridiculously unworkable".

But the Liberal Democrats considered the issue settled, and risk being split if a vote goes ahead.

As a compromise, the coalition agreement this week pledged to allow MPs to vote on whether or not a substantive motion on repeal should be brought forward.

The final decision on repeal, if ever held, would be a free vote allowing individual MPs to vote with their conscience.

However, it is understood that even this watered-down pledge will not be in the Queen's Speech, and therefore will not be debated for up to a year.