Anti-badger cull campaigners have called on politicians to back a pledge to oppose killing on Gloucestershire County Council land.
Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS) has been backed by the Labour group and the one green county councillor, but the Liberal Democrats have criticised campaigners for making it a party political issue ahead of May's election. Independent Mike Sztymiak said he opposes culling on the evidence presented to the council.
The Conservative administration won't yet say where it stands and while the Liberal Democrats oppose the cull, their leader criticised GABS.
"We have led the opposition to the culling of badgers, whether in Gloucestershire or elsewhere," said group leader Jeremy Hilton. "In 2012 we proposed two motions for debate at Shire Hall opposing the killing of badgers. I am disappointed that the pressure group Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS) have made this a party political issue. They were told that the Liberal Democrat manifesto would have a clear policy opposing the culling of badgers in our county."
Council leader Mark Hawthorne said: "The party manifesto for Gloucestershire will be published some time next month."
The call comes following the recent announcement that the government intends to go ahead with a west Gloucestershire badger cull from June 1, as part of a trial to combat bovine tuberculosis.
Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS) has been backed by the Labour group and the one green county councillor, but the Liberal Democrats have criticised campaigners for making it a party political issue ahead of May's election. Independent Mike Sztymiak said he opposes culling on the evidence presented to the council.
The Conservative administration won't yet say where it stands and while the Liberal Democrats oppose the cull, their leader criticised GABS.
"We have led the opposition to the culling of badgers, whether in Gloucestershire or elsewhere," said group leader Jeremy Hilton. "In 2012 we proposed two motions for debate at Shire Hall opposing the killing of badgers. I am disappointed that the pressure group Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS) have made this a party political issue. They were told that the Liberal Democrat manifesto would have a clear policy opposing the culling of badgers in our county."
Council leader Mark Hawthorne said: "The party manifesto for Gloucestershire will be published some time next month."
The call comes following the recent announcement that the government intends to go ahead with a west Gloucestershire badger cull from June 1, as part of a trial to combat bovine tuberculosis.