RSPCA chief comes under fire from NFU
RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant has spoken out against those involved in next year’s badger cull, provoking an angry response from the National Farmers Union (NFU).
Mr Grant discussed the plan on the BBC’s Panorama programme, titled ‘Badgers: Dodging the bullet?’ stating: “The spotlight of attention will be turned on those marksmen and on those who give permission for this cull to take place. They will be named and we will decide as citizens of this country whether they will be shamed."
The NFU director of policy, Martin Haworth, claimed Mr Grant's remarks could cause serious problems if the cull goes ahead as planned next year. He said: "Gavin Grant has overstepped the mark and in doing so confirmed our worst fears that the RSPCA is no longer a responsible organisation with animal welfare at its core."
Mr Haworth believes the RSPCA chief's comments "actively encouraged people to identify farmers and those carrying out the badger cull pilots next year without a thought for their safety, their family's safety or the security of their homes".
He added: "This is tantamount to inciting a campaign of fear and intimidation which I find wholly unacceptable and completely irresponsible.
"Rather than encouraging the targeting of farmers, the RSPCA would do better to focus its efforts on animal welfare across the board. The majority of experts all agree, a badger vaccination programme in isolation won't solve this TB crisis, and a cattle vaccine is still years away.”
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
