Labour warned against strengthening hunt laws amid Boxing Day parades

Sir Keir Starmer's party, which is widely tipped to win the next general election, has in the past called for "loopholes" in hunting legislation to be closed.

It comes amid warnings from campaigners that trail hunting, where a scent is laid for hounds to follow, is being used as a "smokescreen" for the illegal hunting of foxes.

Fox hunting was banned in England and Wales following the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004, which came into force a year later.

The Countryside Alliance, which campaigns for the return of the bloodsport, has urged Labour to abandon any plans to re-open the issue of hunting with new legal reforms.

It comes with a general election expected at some stage in the next 12 months.

Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner called on Labour not to bring forward further legislation but instead to "right the wrongs of the past" and end its "running attack on rural communities".

He said: "Keir Starmer rightly talks about a future Labour government having respect for rural communities, but that needs to be more than just a catchphrase.

"Rural communities need to see action and that means working with them to better the countryside, rather than attacking those who live and work in it."

The organisation has said that it and the British Hound Sports Association would be ready to oppose any new restrictions.

"Ultimately the countryside doesn't want to have to have a fight over hunting again, but it will not sit back and allow itself to be bullied and become victim to a toxic culture-war," Mr Bonner said.

Last month Labour said it is aiming to win over the rural vote by promising farmers and landowners access to cheap, clean energy, fewer food imports and a veterinary agreement with the EU.

Shadow environment secretary Steve Reed, speaking at the Country Land and Business Association conference in central London, said that Labour now has a “respectful attitude” towards rural communities in contrast with the years since 2001 when the party last secured a majority of rural seats in Parliament.

The MP for Croydon North said: “In 1997 and 2001 Labour won a majority of rural seats in Parliament.

"But since then, we became too detached from the aspirations and concerns of our rural communities. No more. Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour now has a respectful attitude towards our rural communities.

“And that means people from urban areas – like me – not telling people who live and work in the countryside how they should live their lives. That is why Labour will deliver the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people in all parts of the country. We want rural communities to control their own futures.”