Martin condemns badger cull trial (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

Martin condemns badger cull trial

December 14, 2011 3:29 PM

CHELTENHAM MP Martin Horwood has today condemned the government's announcement of a badger cull trial. In a statement to the House of Commons, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman stated that there would be two pilot projects for the controlled culling of badgers, as part of a package of measures to combat bovine TB. The locations of the trials are still to be decided. After the trials, it would then be decided by government whether to go ahead with a country-wide cull.

Speaking after the statement, Martin Horwood said: "I cannot support this cull trial, but I very much support the announcement that there will be an extra £250,000 made available each year for vaccinations. I commend the pioneering work that Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust have been doing on a badger bovine TB vaccine. However there are serious EU obstacles to deploying the cattle bovine TB vaccine. I will continue to work with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and our South West MEP Graham Watson to encourage ministers to work with our European partners, to make the cattle vaccine possible."