21 June 2011

The Welsh Government has delayed its announcement on the fate of the badger control order, which would see a cull taking place in parts of Wales. Environment Minister John Griffiths announced the appointment of a panel to review the science behind a badger cull and other bTB measures, instead of the decision which was expected today.

Iolo ap Dafydd, speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, suggested the Welsh and Westminster governments could be engaged in a “game of blinking... to see who blinks first” over this highly controversial subject.

The Welsh Government gave the need to ‘look at the science’ behind badger culling as its reason for making today’s statement; a stance Mr Dafydd described as “interesting,” as no new science has come to light over the five month period in which the WAG delayed its announcement.

The further delay by the Welsh Government suggests a potential change of policy; some have speculated that John Griffiths will roll back the proposal, which was introduced under the previous Labour-Plaid Cymru government, now that the Labour government are governing alone in the Senedd. However, Mr Griffiths denies this. He did state that, “There will be no cull of badgers in the Intensive Action Area while the review is being carried out.”

Today’s deferral will temporarily please wildlife groups and the majority of the public who are opposed to the cull, but has sparked the ire of farming unions, who wanted to see the Welsh Government continue along the path towards a cull, trodden by former Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.

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