The First Minister should apologise to Brecon and Radnorshire farmers after accusing them of spreading Bovine TB, according to Brecon and Radnorshire’s Member of the Senedd and Member of Parliament.
James Evans MS and Fay Jones MP reacted angrily to the First Minister, who told the Senedd: “'the reason why low area statuses have moved up is because of the importation of TB by farmers buying infected cattle and bringing them into the area’. His comments were later echoed by the Agriculture Minister Lesley Griffiths MS.
James Evans said: “This just shows how Welsh Labour do not understand farming. Farmers take their biosecurity measures incredibly seriously and I am proud of them for that. To suggest that they are responsible for the spread of this most pernicious disease is outrageous. The First Minister should get out of his ivory tower and have the guts to visit a cattle farmer and make that accusation in person.
Bovine TB is devastating the cattle industry – but this is about far more than profit. This is having a detrimental impact on the farming community and as shadow minister for mental health, I am disgusted that the First Minister should show such little respect for our farmers – to say nothing of his poor understanding of the issue.”
Fay Jones MP added: “I’m shocked but not surprised by the First Minister’s comments. If the NVZ rules were not proof enough of his disdain for our way of life, this takes the biscuit.
Bovine TB is the scourge of the farming sector and I deeply regret that Welsh Labour has never been brave enough to implement a wildlife cull – which has been proved successful in England. No country in the world has been able to get a grip on the spread of Bovine TB without targeting the disease in the wildlife. Farmers in Brecon and Radnorshire will forever be at a disadvantage while Welsh Labour is in charge.
