Badger Cull Protest

DEFRA has announced that the trial cull of badgers to try to stop the spread of TB in cattle will go ahead, despite speculation of a postponement

The pilot was due to start in parts of West Somerset and Gloucestershire this month but has received widespread opposition.

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A West Country farmer, who's lost two hundred cattle to TB, says he's so fed up with the situation that he's selling up. It comes after news that there's to be a full Commons debate on the badger cull.

The National Farmers' Union has welcomed the debate, even though it's come about as a result of pressure from opponents. But it all comes too late for David Bolt from mid Devon. Bob Cruwys reports.

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Defra’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Boyd and Chief Vet Nigel Gibbens will be answering questions about the badger cull pilots live on Twitter from 12-1pm today.

They will be answering questions about the science and evidence upon which the policy is based and the Government’s wider approach to tackling the spread of TB in cattle.

You can send Ian and Nigel questions using #askDefra and follow the conversation via the department's Twitter account

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Brian May this afternoon celebrated pushing for a Commons debate over a cup of tea in Portcullis House.

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In the last hour it has emerged that a debate will take place in the House of Commons next week to discuss the impending badger cull.

It comes as hundreds of people are gathering at Dunster in West Somerset tonight for a big protest against the cull, which is expected to start in the next few days.

The full 6 hour debate will take place on Thursday 25th October after a petition exceeding 100,000 signatures was gathered by Queen guitarist Brian May.

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