badger cull wales again

[galanthus]

Well here we go again, the woman and her cohorts are relentless in the pursuit of badgers. A cull of shallow-minded, sycophantic mps wld be more welcome.

http://mail.aol.com/32679-111/aol-1/en-gb/Suite.aspx

[Digit]

What ever the rights and wrongs they are a lot less welcome around here than in some areas.
We had one in our garden recently, and boy can they be destructive!

Roy.

[Eryri]

Originally Posted by galanthus

the woman and her cohorts

There comes a point when you have to accept the will of the people after democratic elections. Some years ago there was a 'free vote' of democratically elected MPs in Westminster on the ban on fox hunting. The lords rejected it twice, but there is a process where the democratic chamber overrules the lords, as the MPs represent the people via elections. Whatever your views on fox hunting, democracy has prevailed.

The badger cull proposals were first introduced in Wales in 2005/2006 when Carwyn Jones AM was agriculture minister. We had democratic elections in Wales in 2007, and after those elections, Elin Jones AM was elected Agriculture Minister and called a 'free vote' of ALL democratically elected AMs took place in the Senedd. They overwhelmingly passed the plans for a badger cull, and there was an overwhelming majority in ALL of the political parties elected. This was eventually overturned by three law lords, against the democratic wishes of the people of Wales. It is quite honourable for Elin Jones to address any of the legal technicalities, but the democratic mandate for the badger cull still stands.

Since then we have also had a Westminster elections in 2010, and every single MP from Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire who was democratically elected was publicly in favour of the badger cull.

Next year we will have another two elections in Wales, in May 2011. One for the Senedd and a referendum for enhanced powers over agriculture.There is no doubt that the badger cull will be an issue, particularly in constituencies directly effected by the IAPA. It will be the THIRD time that the people of Wales will have had a democratic opportunity to have their views heard on the issue. It seems to me that should un-elected lords further reject the proposal it will bring into question the very democratic process, and may seriously damage the constitutional settlement of Wales remaining inside the UK, certainly in the minds of those voters of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

Let the will of the people prevail.

[Digit]

Let the will of the people prevail.

I gave up believing in democracy years ago!
Some years ago a poll concluded that 86 per cent of the people favoured the death penalty for certain crimes, our democratically elected MPs ignored it.

Roy.

[Hobjob]

I'm not sure it is fair to compare fox hunting and badger culls.

The fox hunting by dogs ban was not only seen as toffs vs working class, but also seen as being about the ethics of fox hunting.

The badger argument should be about the science of badger culls. Will it, or will it not help to contain the bTB problem that is causing farmers such problems. This is of course confused by love of badgers in some groups.

I do not think that the public's view, or the average MP's view on this science is really that important. Only a tiny minority of either of these groups has scientific training or has tried to understand statistics, risk, biais etc..

I have a scientific background and through the web (and WAB in particular) have tried to grasp the evidence; this is not easy as those for, and those against, confuse the facts with innuendo and emotion.

The new UK government promised evidence based decision making. So far they don't seem to be following through.

[Digit]

Simple Hobjob, you use the only method that can produce conclusive results. You cull then see what happens.
Remember the computer programme that was used during the F and M out break?

Roy.

[stripee]

The latest developments in Wales (and England) will be featured on ITV Wales', weekly current affairs programme, Sharp End, tonight, Thurdsay, 23rd September, 10.35pm.

Those appearing on the programme will be representatives from Save The Badger, National Farmers Union Cymru, Elin Jones/WAG.