Reform calls for badger cull in fight against bovine TB

Conservative MS Paul Davies backed Reform’s position, arguing ministers should not wait for further evidence before acting.

“The evidence is already there to show that this disease needs to be tackled in the wildlife reservoir,” he said.

Responding for the government, Llyr Gruffydd said ministers would wait for advice from the expert group before deciding whether any policy changes were needed.

“It’s only right that experts advise us and not think that politicians know best,” he said.

Gruffydd said the government would develop a “science-led, evidence-based and holistic” strategy to tackle the disease.

“There are no quick fixes, I fear, for TB in cattle,” he said.

“But by working together and focusing on cattle, people and wildlife, I believe we can accelerate progress and move Wales closer to our shared ambition of eliminating TB by 2041.”

Green Party MS Paul Rock said the distress caused by bovine TB was undeniable, but argued there was no need for badger culls because existing measures were delivering results.

“Since the decision to stop culling badgers in 2012, new herd infections have halved and bovine TB has fallen to its lowest level in almost 20 years,” he said.

“All of this has been achieved without any lethal wildlife control.”

Senedd members overwhelmingly backed Reform’s call by 79 votes to nine, with support from Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives and opposition from Labour and the Greens.