I am sick to death of farmers crying wolf, they think they are the most important people in the country, it is abut time all their subsidies are stopped. Their contribution to the economy & the amount of personal they employ is negligible compared to other forms of employment.

J.M, Rye, East Susex

The farmers should be heckling themselves. It is appalling modern farming methods and the treatment of farmed cows that spreads TB. Badgers may play a small part, but farmiers need to stop trying to deflect the blame from themselves. Its a classic case of head in the sand lets blame someone, or something, anyone, else.

To be honest, I am fed up of edicts from the likes of the NFU, all they ever do is whine and complain about how hard done by they all are. I personally agree with what much of the NFU is concerned about but they are losing public support by their belligerant self-self-self attitudes.

Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, England

I think that what Mr Kendall wanted to say, if he used the word at all, and it isn't paraphrasing by Valerie Elliott, is that the Minister was procrastinating - delaying. He might well have been prevaricating as well - being economical with the truth, but that's another matter.

Bill Q, Derby,

How I agree with Steve, 6.000 snares have been placed nightly to eradicate badgers in Ireland, there are very few left. BUT, bTB has increased in cattle!! What a sad reflection on those not listening to the scientific evidence of the ISG report. In culling trials 1.7% of badgers were found to be bTB infected, yes 1.7% only.Increased biosecurity of farms will go a long way to eradicating the spread, and more honest testing premovement .

jane payne, scarborough, uk

over in southern ireland they have been trying to eradicate tb and the badger to no availe it will not work .so lets not have a sensless slaughter to appease one section of the community

steve broadbent, skipton, yorkshire