Bristol MP condemns “new blood-sport” in the West Country
Kerry McCarthy MP has attacked plans by the Government to introduce a cull of badgers in the South-West of England
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman, has announced plans for a cull of badgers in South-West England, with two pilot schemes in unidentified areas trialling what has been dubbed ”the Big Society badger cull”. Farmers will be allowed to apply for licences to shoot badgers on their land, in a bid to curb bovine TB.
Kerry has asked questions in parliament before about whether the Government supported a badger cull, but the Government has until now – the last day before parliament goes into recess – refused to reveal its plans.
Kerry said: “This announcement has been sneaked out today, the very last day of Parliament before recess. The Government has done this because they know it is not based on scientific-evidence, and is not able to withstand close Parliamentary scrutiny.
“Instead, this is a decision based on short-term political calculation, of the Government capitulating to the wishes of the farming lobby. The Minister has been cowardly in not standing up to this lobby to address the real cause of the spread of bovine TB in cattle, which is the movement of infected cattle and the problem of farmers selling cattle which they know is infected.
”In her announcement, the Minister has created a new blood-sport that will do nothing to curb the spread of Bovine TB.
“The Secretary of State said there would be two pilot areas in the South, but refused to disclose where. I think there is a strong public interest in disclosing this information.”
