JULIA Hammett (ViewPoints, May 22) hit the nail on the head in exposing the corrupt nature of this Government’s decision to pander to amoral dairy farmers in giving the go-ahead to the massacre of our badgers, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus that the cull will have little effect on TB in cattle, and could well be counterproductive.

Lord Krebs who conducted the previous 10-year badger cull, stated: “I can’t understand how anybody who’s looked at the science would say that this is a good idea.”

The following revelation, by Professor John Bourne (chairman of the Independent Scientific Group on Badger TB), is indicative of the true motivation of this Government.

He stated in Vet Record: “I think the most interesting observation was made to me by a senior politician who said: ‘Fine, John. We accept your science, but we have to offer the farmers a carrot, and the only carrot we can possibly give them is culling badgers.’”

The Government convincingly lost the recent debate on this issue in the House of Commons, but their allegiance is to vested interests rather than the electorate.

We should also not underestimate the influence of Prince Charles, who was lobbying Tony Blair years ago to institute a cull on his Duchy of Cornwall estates and has doubtless been campaigning behind the scenes ever since.

M PRITCHARD Linkside Avenue Oxford