Coalition divided over use of wild animals in the circus

It won’t be the split that brings down the Coalition but I hear that there is a top-level policy rupture on the use of wild animals in the circus. Nick Clegg wants them banned and the PM doesn’t.

Someone at DEFRA briefed as long ago as April that a ban was on the way, after images of a circus elephant being beaten were filmed. But then, I understand, No. 10 stamped on it. There are mutterings this is all to do with a wildlife centre in David Cameron’s constituency but he might also be worried about looking too politically correct. He might be worried about instant, dangerous dogs-style laws.

The DEFRA minister James Paice had to go through a half hour ordeal last week apologising for having said that an Austrian court judgment was holding up consideration of the matter – it isn’t. Neither, it seems, are the other reasons sometimes cited for not going ahead with a ban – the EU Services Directive and human rights law (the right to property).