A MEMBER of the anti-badger cull group has pulled out of the running to become Gloucestershire's police and crime commissioner, citing the expensive process as undemocratic.
Jeanne Berry, of the Badger Party, said there were public safety concerns over the proposed cull in Gloucestershire. Despite her
withdrawal, Mrs Berry says the publicity her campaign has received has helped achieve her objective.
"I was always hopeful to be elected as we had more than 1000 supporters across Gloucestershire," she told the BBC. "But there was the risk of having to put a lot of money in to support the campaign and to even be in the running.
"I am continuing to work with Brian May but there is an element of pride involved here. I did not want to have to ask anyone else for money for my campaign.
"But we have had some degree of success. Gloucestershire Police is now taking the dangers surrounding the cull seriously and has cancelled police leave while the cull comes into operation.
"The publicity we have brought to the issue is positive.
"£5,000 is a lot of money to find and I am retired. The election is not a democratic process and it is political, so it will be hard to be successful without that support."
If elected, Mrs Berry had vowed to donate half of the £65,000 from her salary back into front-line policing and make the force more efficient.
