The resignation of the Welsh Government's acting Chief Scientist Professor Chris Pollock over the decision not to undertake a badger cull in north Pembrokeshire highlights the flawed nature of its decision to pursue vaccination in the area rather than a cull and underlines "scandalous" government negligence, says the Farmers' Union of Wales.
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" and that "Using vaccination in the targeted Intensive Action Area, where the level of infection in badgers is extremely high, in my view goes against the recommendations of his (Environment Secretary John Griffiths') own scientific review".
FUW TB spokesman Brian Walters said today: "Professor 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."