Stephen Fry joins badger cull opposition
Stephen Fry has become latest celebrity to call on the government to halt its badger cull plans.
The actor and broadcaster sent a message to his 4.8 million Twitter followers urging them to sign an e-petition calling for the cull to be abandoned.
“It’s not too late to stop the badger cull,” he said at 11.20am on Thursday (27 September). “Please sign the petition. Thanks if you’ve already done so.”
Mr Fry’s message has since been retweeted more than 1,480 times.
More than 128,000 have now signed the “stop the cull” e-petition, which was initiated earlier this month by Queen guitarist Brian May.
The e-petition has already passed the threshold of 100,000 signatures needed for it to be considered for a House of Commons debate.
Leader of the House of Commons Andrew Lansley has now written to the Backbench Business Committee, who are responsible for the scheduling of debates on e-petitions.
The committee meets weekly to hear representations from MPs for debates in backbench time.
It can consider any subject for debate, including those raised in e-petitions, but an MP must make the case for their consideration.
Farm minister David Heath has already said he would welcome a debate. But he said there would be no change in government policy and the cull would go ahead as planned.
A further response from the government on the e-petition will be published in due course.
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