Tory MP to hold a parliamentary debate on RSPCA's prosecutions

25 Jan 2013 News

MPs will debate the role of the RSPCA as a prosecutor in Parliament next week.

Conservative MP Simon Hart

MPs will debate the role of the RSPCA as a prosecutor in Parliament next week.

The debate, tabled by Conservative MP Simon Hart, will take place in Westminster Hall next Tuesday morning.

It follows a call from Hart (pictured) and a cross-party group of politicians for the Charity Commission to investigate the in Oxfordshire.

Speaking to civilsociety.co.uk, Hart said the RSPCA’s recent successful prosecution of the Heythrop Hunt in Oxfordshire had a

It’s odd that out of all the numbers of potential cases which could have been brought, the RSPCA chose one involving David Cameron’s constituents,” he said.

The Charity Commission met with the RSPCA this month and said its prosecutions were not a matter of regulatory concern.

Commenting on the debate, Hart, a former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said. “If it looks like the RSPCA is using its favourable condition of charitable status to further its political causes we will continue to shine a light on it.”