A Sussex MP has joined a cross-party demand for the Government to allow Parliament to make a decision on a hunting ban.

Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, joined Labour's Tony Banks and Tory Ann Widdecombe at a Press conference in London yesterday, demanding the Government deal with its 1997 manifesto promise to outlaw the practice, if Parliament agrees.

A document has been signed by 412 MPs pledging their support.

The MPs were backed by the Fund for Animal Welfare, the RSPCA and the League Against Cruel Sports and leading animal rights campaigners who launched their own campaign, Countdown to Hunting, at the same time.

Mr Baker said: "There is no doubt it is time to act and act decisively to ban this barbaric and archaic activity.

"Parliament has spoken very clearly, the population is clearly opposed to hunting with dogs.

"This is not a town-versus-country debate. Rural life has not collapsed while hunting with dogs has been banned because of foot-and-mouth.

"Farmers did not go out of business and there was no massive explosion of the fox population.

"The Government must not hide behind another private member's Bill or introduce a Bill right at the end of a Parliament, when there was no time for it to become law."

He said Tony Blair must act and added: "I hope it is not long before we see an end to what I regard as a barbaric use of human time, chasing animals to kill them for so-called sport."

Mr Baker has been nominated for a Channel 4 award as best Opposition MP for the third year in a row.

MPs will vote this week to decide the winner and the award will be presented by Jon Snow at a televised show on February 6.

Also in the running for the award are defeated Tory leadership candidate Michael Portillo and former Tory Cabinet minister Gillian Shephard.