Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones announced on Tuesday that a decision over whether plans for a badger cull in the west of the country will go ahead will be delayed for a third time. The most recent delay has sparked a backlash from opposition Assembly Members who have accused the government of using delaying tactics.

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Earlier in the year, acutely controversial plans for a badger cull, brought in by the previous Welsh Assembly Government, were put on hold when the incoming Labour government announced it would review the science behind culling; the plans were drawn up in an attempt to combat bovine TB, which is rife in Western and Northern Wales.

The government initially promised it would publish its results in the Autumn, then said it would make an announcement before Christmas. However, a decision is now not expected until early 2012, much to the ire of the Welsh farming unions, which fervently support culling.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas of Plaid Cymru railed against Jones’ announcement, accusing the government of unnecessarily “stalling,” and not measuring up to Elin Jones, the minister who green lighted cull plans in May. The government promised to review the science and make a decision six months ago.

Thomas said, "The truth of the matter is that there is no new scientific evidence. All you're trying to do is defer the decision because you don't have the courage that the former minister had."

First Minister Carwyn Jones dismissed Thomas’ accusations and reiterated that an announcement would be made “in the early months of next year,” based upon the findings of an independent panel of scientists tasked with examining the evidence.

Farm Minister Jim Paice last month promised an announcement on whether trial culls would go ahead in England would be made before Christmas. Opinions on both culls remain divided, with many believing that the proposals would have little effect on bTB incidences and farming unions claiming government plans transfer too much of the cost onto farmers.

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