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| Badgers 'moved goalposts' says minister Owen Paterson | Badgers 'moved goalposts' says minister Owen Paterson |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A government minister said "badgers moved the goalposts" when asked why marksmen failed to reach a cull target. | |
| A pilot badger cull in west Somerset may be extended by up to three weeks in an effort to make up the shortfall. | A pilot badger cull in west Somerset may be extended by up to three weeks in an effort to make up the shortfall. |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was asked if he had "moved the goalposts" by claiming the cull was a success. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was asked if he had "moved the goalposts" by claiming the cull was a success. |
| However, those behind the cull itself were denounced as "incompetent", in the House of Lords. | However, those behind the cull itself were denounced as "incompetent", in the House of Lords. |
| Mr Paterson explained difficulties lay in the fact the operation was dealing with a feral animal. | Mr Paterson explained difficulties lay in the fact the operation was dealing with a feral animal. |
| "The badgers moved the goalposts. We're dealing with a wild animal, subject to the vagaries of the weather and disease and breeding patterns," he said. | "The badgers moved the goalposts. We're dealing with a wild animal, subject to the vagaries of the weather and disease and breeding patterns," he said. |
| The pilot culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset set out to study if badgers could be killed safely, effectively and humanely. | The pilot culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset set out to study if badgers could be killed safely, effectively and humanely. |
| They are being carried out in an attempt to control TB in cattle, which can be spread by badgers. Opponents say they will have no impact. | They are being carried out in an attempt to control TB in cattle, which can be spread by badgers. Opponents say they will have no impact. |
| 'Reduction in disease' | 'Reduction in disease' |
| The plan was to kill 70% of badgers in the areas of west Somerset and Gloucestershire by free shooting. | The plan was to kill 70% of badgers in the areas of west Somerset and Gloucestershire by free shooting. |
| Across both regions this meant around 5,000 badgers were to be killed in total. | Across both regions this meant around 5,000 badgers were to be killed in total. |
| But Defra sources said these targets were based on population estimates from 2012 that have proved to be highly inaccurate. | But Defra sources said these targets were based on population estimates from 2012 that have proved to be highly inaccurate. |
| In west Somerset, the population, which had been estimated at 2,400, has now been revised downwards to 1,450. In Gloucestershire, the numbers have been lowered from 3,400 to 2,350. | In west Somerset, the population, which had been estimated at 2,400, has now been revised downwards to 1,450. In Gloucestershire, the numbers have been lowered from 3,400 to 2,350. |
| In a written statement to MPs, Mr Paterson said: "Current indications suggest that the pilot has been safe, humane and effective in delivering a reduction in the badger population of just under 60%. | In a written statement to MPs, Mr Paterson said: "Current indications suggest that the pilot has been safe, humane and effective in delivering a reduction in the badger population of just under 60%. |
| "We set ourselves a challenging target of aiming to ensure that 70% of the badger population was removed. | "We set ourselves a challenging target of aiming to ensure that 70% of the badger population was removed. |
| "The chief veterinary officer (CVO) has advised that the 60% reduction this year will deliver clear disease benefits as part of a four-year cull. | "The chief veterinary officer (CVO) has advised that the 60% reduction this year will deliver clear disease benefits as part of a four-year cull. |
| "However, Natural England are considering an application from Somerset for a short extension of the culling period, as provided for under the agreement with the company." | "However, Natural England are considering an application from Somerset for a short extension of the culling period, as provided for under the agreement with the company." |
| But Queen guitarist Brian May, a leading opponent of the cull, branded the approach an "utter failure" and described the application for an extension as a "farce". | But Queen guitarist Brian May, a leading opponent of the cull, branded the approach an "utter failure" and described the application for an extension as a "farce". |
| 'Limited experiment' | 'Limited experiment' |
| "It's a failure because they said they had to cull 70% and they failed to do that. They are now applying for an extension," he said. | "It's a failure because they said they had to cull 70% and they failed to do that. They are now applying for an extension," he said. |
| "This is becoming a farce. They are now being told that probably the prevalence (of TB) has increased in badgers already. | "This is becoming a farce. They are now being told that probably the prevalence (of TB) has increased in badgers already. |
| "They were warned this would happen and they did not listen to the scientists." | "They were warned this would happen and they did not listen to the scientists." |
| During an urgent question in the Lords, independent crossbench peer Robert, Lord May of Oxford, said the government had ignored expert opinion. | During an urgent question in the Lords, independent crossbench peer Robert, Lord May of Oxford, said the government had ignored expert opinion. |
| "This cull went ahead against the balance of advice from the scientific community in particular that a limited experiment such as this was unlikely to yield much in the way of useful information," he said. | "This cull went ahead against the balance of advice from the scientific community in particular that a limited experiment such as this was unlikely to yield much in the way of useful information," he said. |
| He asked environment minister Lord de Mauley: "Would you agree with me, however, that we have indeed learned something important? | He asked environment minister Lord de Mauley: "Would you agree with me, however, that we have indeed learned something important? |
| "We have learned that those responsible for this so-called experiment are so incompetent that they couldn't even make a reliable estimate of the number of badgers." | "We have learned that those responsible for this so-called experiment are so incompetent that they couldn't even make a reliable estimate of the number of badgers." |
| Lord de Mauley disagreed, saying the policy followed was "evidence-based". | Lord de Mauley disagreed, saying the policy followed was "evidence-based". |
| "We have taken every opportunity to acquire the latest and most up-to-date information from the pilot areas to refine the estimate of the badger population," he said. | "We have taken every opportunity to acquire the latest and most up-to-date information from the pilot areas to refine the estimate of the badger population," he said. |