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Poll: Should animals be banned from performing in the circus?

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Leader of the Commons William Hague has refused to allocate Government time for discussion of a proposed law banning the use of wild animals in circuses.

Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick's Wild Animals in Circuses Bill, which is due to be debated at second reading today, has now been blocked nine times.

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The Poplar and Limehouse MP says it is the same as one previously published by the Government and has the Prime Minister's support.

But because it is a Private Member's Bill (PMB), it can be stopped by the objection of a single MP. On Friday, Tory Christopher Chope (Christchurch) blocked the measure for a sixth time.

As objections continue to be made, the chance of the Bill becoming law reduces as PMBs are only debated on sitting Fridays, of which there are a limited number.

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Today, shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle asked Mr Hague to allow Government time for the Bill.

He said both he and the Government supported the Bill, but that it would not be right for ministers to pluck legislation from the PMB pool.

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He told MPs: "I think that it would be wrong for the Government to pick Bills out of the private members process and then give them Government time.

"The Bill will have to take its normal chances."