Chief scientist quits over badger cull U-turn‎

The Welsh Government’s acting Chief Scientist Professor Chris Pollock has resigned over the decision not to undertake a badger cull.

The decision to cull badgers in Wales was dropped in favour of vaccination which farming bodies such as the Farmer’s Union of Wales disagreed with.

A vaccination programme will begin in the TB danger zones in north Pembrokeshire where the cull was originally going to take place.

Prof Pollock, previously director of Aberystwyth’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, announced his resignation last week, stating "vaccination is effectively untried so you are exchanging an approach which has a track record of success in Ireland and elsewhere with one not really tried at all".

FUW spokesman Brian Walters said "Pollock’s resignation backs up everything we have been saying about the Welsh Government’s decision since it was announced."

"The evidence given to the government shows that their decision will cost the taxpayer at least an extra £3.5 million and is not backed up by the science. Now we have a world renowned scientist who has been an advisor to the Welsh Government for many years saying the same, and sacrificing his position in protest."

"His decision to resign over the government’s cowardly and scandalous betrayal of the farming industry is a noble one, and highlights the need for an inquiry into this issue."