A HEREFORDSHIRE MP has defended the badger cull saying not only does it protect cattle, but also healthy badgers.

The badger cull has been extended to seven new areas, including to south Herefordshire, in a drive to prevent the further spread of bovine TB in cattle.

In a debate in parliament on Wednesday, MP for north Herefordshire, Bill Wiggin, said that to suggest culling does not work and vaccination would be a substitute is unfair and unfortunate, given the evidence available.

He said: "The reason why we are all here is that bovine TB is caused by a species-jumping bacterium, and it affects people.

"That is why this is such an important subject, and it is no good saying that it is all about badgers.

"The government’s record on it is superb. By identifying the edge areas, they have made it clear that a huge part of our country has badgers with no infection.

"There is a clear, healthy population of badgers, and they need to be protected from the badgers in my constituency, which have a high incidence of infection.

"If we lose sight of that, we do no favours to the people who love badgers or to the badgers that are not infected."

He said cattle needs to be protected, otherwise they are letting down healthy badgers and the farmers.

Mr Wiggin added: "During the recess I read that the incidence of outbreaks in Wales and in the edge areas where vaccines are being trialled has actually gone up, which is a disaster for those of us who want vaccines to work, but in among that gloom is a little sparkle of hope to all of those who voted to leave the EU, because ?when we are out we will potentially be allowed to vaccinate our cattle, which is illegal in the EU at the moment."

The debate was secured by Scottish MP, Paul Monaghan, who said he believed the extended badger cull will result in further new herd breakdowns and increased prevalence of the disease across England.

He said scientific evidence does not identify a causal relationship between the presence of badgers and a rising incidence of bovine TB in cattle, nor does scientific data suggest that culling badgers reduces the prevalence of the disease in beef and dairy herds.

Dr Monaghan believes the UK government should adopt blood testing and robust systems of biosecurity.

He said: "Combined with a co-ordinated badger vaccination policy in high-risk areas for bovine TB in England and restricted movement, that course of action would be a more progressive and intelligent option than the relatively crude skin testing and redundant killing of badgers and would realise results within months. It would also be more humane."