Pressure is growing for the badger cull in Wales to be cancelled
They have been signing a Commons early day motion congratulating Environment Secretary Hilary Benn on his principled stance in rejecting calls for a widespread cull in England.
The MPs claim the evidence shows a cull would do nothing to eradicate the disease, and is likely to make matters worse, and say Mr Benn is right to take his decision in accordance with science.
They hope Elin Jones, Minister for Rural Affairs at the Welsh Assembly “will set aside her intention to allow a cull, and return to an evidence- based approach”.
The motion was tabled by former Welsh First Minister Alun Michael, who said: “Given that we have a long and porous border between Wales and England any widespread culling of badgers in Wales would be bad for farmers in Wales and could also be very bad for farmers in England.”
It has been signed by several Welsh Labour MPs, and maverick English Tory Peter Bottomley. And campaign group Viva! urged Welsh Assembly Members to put pressure on Ms Jones to follow England and throw out proposals for a cull.
Viva! believes scientific research has shown slaughtering badgers would be an animal welfare disaster, would not work and may actually spread the disease further.
Assembly members have been warned the wrong decision could also damage the reputation of Wales, hitting tourism and trade.
Campaigns manager Justin Kerswell said the cull had been touted as a quick fix, but Welsh chief vet Dr Christianne Glossop had since admitted even in 2018 the end game would not necessarily be in sight for TB.
But the National Farmers Union said: “Hilary Benn's recent announcement was a disgraceful abdication of responsibility and despite his promise to base his decision on the facts, he had ignored the scientific evidence.
“To admit that a cull might work, and then push the already crippling burden of TB controls further on to the farming industry is just plain wrong.
“It is ridiculous to expect farmers to continue fighting TB with one hand tied behind their back,” it said.
“The Welsh Assembly should be congratulated on having the courage to tackle every aspect of the spread of bovine TB and we urge Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones to carry on with their proposed managed badger cull in TB hotspots.”
Mr Benn said: “Those decisions in Wales are a devolved matter.”
Tory North Wiltshire MP James Gray said farmers were distraught that culling of badgers would not be allowed, after 200,000 mostly healthy cattle had been slaughtered in the past 10 years because of TB.
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