CRIS ILES-WRIGHT, of Fincer Drive, Ivybridge, writes:

The serious problem of TB continues, and as a reaction shooting of badgers may start at any time now.

Unfortunately this is not the right course of action. If badgers are carrying TB and they can transmit it to cattle, shooting may spread populations of badgers thus spreading TB.

A recent rally in London to oppose the cull was started by pro-badger groups, although much of the opposition to the culling has come from other quarters.

Lord John Krebs is one of the UK's most respected scientists and organised the 10-year culling trails that ended in 2007. He stated that 'the scientific case is as clear as it can be: this cull is not the answer to TB in cattle.'

Lord Robert May is president of the Royal Society and was government chief scientist.

He fears the Government have been selective with data in an attempt to justify a cull.

He wrote: 'It is very clear to me that the Government's policy does not make sense... I have no sympathy with the decision. They are transmuting evidence-based policy into policy-based evidence.'

The current Government chief scientist, Professor Sir John Beddington, refused to back the cull and is trying to engage with Defra over their research on the subject.

Professor Woodroofe, of the Zoological Society of London, has raised the evidence that attempts to cull can spread TB infections as badger populations move; 'all the evidence shows that culling badgers increases the proportion of badgers that have TB.'

I share the views of experts who feel that the policy has been ill thought through and will result in spreading injured and infected badgers around while nursing sows leave untended young.

It's not too late for the Government to suspend the cull and allow consultation with experts in order to build a policy in which we may have more faith.

l MP defends policy on badger culling: see page 23.