St Albans MP Anne Main spoke against the Government badger cull in the House of Commons yesterday.

Mrs Main led the debate on the controversial issue and proposed a motion which drew attention to the failure of the culls. She stressed that the debate was not "about one side against the other" but about bringing the issue to Parliament to have it properly considered and debated.

The motion went to a vote which was overwhelmingly against the cull - 219 to 1.

In a statement released by her office, Mrs Main said: "I was determined to make it into the house in order that the Government will listen. Listen to the science, to the charities, to my constituents who have written in their hundreds and are concerned not only about badgers, but about bovine TB.

"I have a great deal of sympathy for those farmers whose cattle have been affected by this awful disease. Many of my colleagues spoke eloquently and powerfully against the motion, but simply doing something for the sake of doing something cannot be the best way to conduct policy.

"In the chamber today (Thursday) we saw passions running high from both sides, but as the culls have been shown to be disastrous on all the criteria set, I think it’s time the Government reconsider their position on tackling bovine TB. All sides of the house were in agreement that we need to adopt a strategy which tackles this matter successfully, and culling has been shown to be ineffective and inhumane."

She continued: "The will of the house has now been clearly expressed. I hope the Government listens to the House and the Independent Expert Panel’s report. It is important to halt the culls, and seek new ways to tackle this insidious disease.

"The Minister must bring this back before the House for a binding vote on the way forward that has the support of Parliament."