On Boxing Day, Anne helped to launch a national campaign to support the ban on hunting wild animals with dogs.

The 'Back the Ban' campaign was launched on Boxing Day - the old centre of the fox hunting calendar - by Hilary Benn and a host of celebrities including Tony Robinson and Patrick Stewart.

Boxing-Day 2009 was the fifth since the Bill to ban hunting with dogs was passed. The ban has already resulted in dozens of prosecutions, and the forecast dire effects on rural communities have not come to pass.

But the Hunting Act is under threat as pro-hunt activists prepare to spend thousands of pounds in backing Tory candidates committed to bringing back the cruel sport.

Anne Begg MP said: "For David Cameron, getting the Act repealed is a top priority. He used to hunt, until his PR advisers told him not to; he talked about hunting in his first ever speech to Parliament; and he has said that if he becomes Prime Minister he will get rid of the hunting ban as soon as possible."

"But, like the vast majority of people in Aberdeen, I think that barbaric act of letting dogs tear foxes to pieces with their teeth shouldn't return to our countryside.

"That's why I'm supporting www.backtheban.com and I'm urging everyone in Aberdeen to sign up to the 'Back the Ban' campaign too."