Lib Dems would introduce a cull

Accusing the Government of ‘shamelessly ducking the issue’ Tim Farron, Lib Dem Shadow Defra Secretary, says his party’s decision is guided by the science.

“A limited badger cull is necessary and the science does justify it. The reality is badgers are reservoirs of TB, we need to tackle them and the way is through a targeted cull in south west England.

“If Defra had culled badgers five or 10 years ago they may have controlled the disease. As it is, we now need a targeted cull, along with a programme of vaccines for badgers and cattle, regular on-farm testing and post-movement testing of cattle moving from high-risk areas to low-risk areas.”

We believe an intensive and science-based pilot cull on a large scale with hard boundaries would be justified

Roger Williams

Roger Williams, Lib Dem MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, needs no introduction to the problems caused by bTB.

“We had a breakdown in our herd recently for the first time since 1956, but the nature of our business has allowed us to carry on,” he says.

“But I have also witnessed the devastating financial, physical and mental effect this disease has had on farming families who have literally lost everything.”

Mr Williams says it is time the Government trusted former chief scientific advisor Prof David King’s advice, who, in 2007, said the removal of badgers would be ‘the best option to reduce the reservoir of infection in wildlife’.

Mr Williams says: “Defra has been in denial of the evidence. The Lib Dems, however, will not turn their backs on farmers.

“We believe an intensive and science-based pilot cull on a large scale with hard boundaries would be justified. This is not going to be easy but we have to follow the science,” he says.

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