Badger cull over TB wins backing from MPs

A motion backing a comprehensive eradication strategy for TB, including two pilot culls of badgers, received a majority of 49 votes.

The plan, deeply unpopular with animal rights activists and long-mooted as a solution to the virus, fatal if contracted by cattle, will now go ahead.

Speaking after the vote, NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said that this week’s vote settled once and for all the political debate and that the two badger cull pilot areas should continue unhindered.

“Today’s vote is a ringing endorsement of the comprehensive strategy to bear down on TB and rid our countryside of this disease,” he said.

“Farmers are doing all they can to help prevent TB in cattle through rigorous testing of cattle, movement controls and biosecurity measures.

“But as many MPs said in today’s debate, until we have a comprehensive strategy that bears down on the disease in wildlife, this disease will continue to run out of control.

“The two pilot culls taking place this year are an essential step in delivering this comprehensive plan and must be allowed to proceed without interference.”

The debate followed a motion tabled by the Opposition arguing that the badger cull should not go ahead. This motion was rejected by a clear majority of MPs.

However, the fight may not be over with Mark Jones, executive director of Humane Society International, saying: “Whilst it is deeply disappointing that MPs have failed to act today to protect England’s badgers from an inhumane and unjustifiable slaughter, this must not be seen as a mandate for a massacre.

“Today’s vote was about politics, not badgers.”