John Griffiths, the Welsh Environment Minister, today announced that there will be no cull of badgers in Wales. Instead the government will support a programme of vaccinations. The minister said that, following a re-evaluation of the scientific evidence, the government would abandon plans to kill badgers as part of its efforts to combat bovine TB in affected areas of West Wales.

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After being successfully challenged in court in 2010, then given the green-light by the previous assembly government, cull plans were put on hold when the incumbent Welsh government came to power last year, pending a scientific review.

Although there has been widespread opposition to cull proposals in Wales, the Labour government’s opposition and farming unions in the country have all expressed support for culling. Nevertheless, the environment minister told Assembly Members in the Sennedd, "At present I am not satisfied that a cull of badgers would be necessary to bring about a substantial reduction in cases of TB in cattle."

Mr Griffiths said he remained committed to eradicating the "terrible disease".

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