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PM admits badger cull difficulties

John Craven interviewed David Cameron for BBC's Countryfile, Part 1 televised last Sunday, and continues on countryside topice, including badger cull in Part 2 Ithis coming Sunday, 15th Jan - reported here.

PRESS ASSOCIATION
13 January 2012

David Cameron has acknowledged that the proposed badger cull trials will involve "no end of difficulties", including concerns over policing.

The Prime Minister insisted the two pilot schemes aimed at controlling the spread of bovine TB were the "right thing to do" despite the concerns of wildlife campaigners.

Mr Cameron said that those protesting against the decision to cull badgers were forgetting that the species was also suffering from the "terrible" disease.

Six-week trials will take place in two areas later this year and could lead to a wider cull across the country as part of efforts to tackle TB in cattle.

In an interview with BBC One's Countryfile, Mr Cameron said the situation was "very difficult" but "what we want is healthy cattle but we also want healthy badgers and I think sometimes the critics of the culling trials forget that in the end it's the badgers who are also suffering from this terrible disease as well".

He added: "I think it's right to take this difficult step to have these pilots - we're going to have to watch very closely about how they're put in place, how they're carried out, but in the end the aim is healthy cattle, healthy badgers."

Next month's National Farmers' Union conference, which will be addressed by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, is set to be targeted by animal rights protesters angry at the proposed culls, and with feelings running high Mr Cameron acknowledged the trials could be difficult to police.

"But the question we faced as a Government is when you've got all this evidence that culling should be part of - only part of - a balanced package of measures, do you just sweep it under the carpet and announce another review or do you say OK, we need to get on and see if we can make this work?"

Mr Cameron used the interview to repeat his pledge to allow a vote on repeal of the Hunting Act in this Parliament: "I always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons. My problem has always been that it was just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn't really belong."

In an effort to protect British farmers, Mr Cameron also indicated the UK could take legal action against other European Union members who do not meet strict animal welfare regulations. The interview will be broadcast on Countryfile on BBC1 at 7pm on Sunday January 15.

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