The Environment Minister has spoken out against "high-profile public entertainers" speaking out on the proposed badger cull.
Cabinet minister Owen Paterson's comments came days after a fresh appeal from Queen guitarist Brian May against the proposed badger cull.
Mr Paterson also told journalists in New Zealand that there was "massive complacency" in the UK over the issue and insisted "The world isn't like The Wind in the Willows".
The Government is still pushing ahead with plans for a pilot badger cull in Gloucestershire and Somerset this summer to stop the spread of Bovine TB.
Many farmers in Cornwall blighted by Bovine TB have welcomed the cull but campaigners say it will not solve the problem.
Mr Paterson told NZ Farmer: "There's much more reality here. Everyone's much more clued up to diseases. The world isn't like The Wind in the Willows."
And in what appeared to be an attempt to slap down campaigners such as Brian May he said: "I get slightly bored with these rather high-profile public entertainers sort of bossing around on this stuff."
Cabinet minister Owen Paterson's comments came days after a fresh appeal from Queen guitarist Brian May against the proposed badger cull.
Mr Paterson also told journalists in New Zealand that there was "massive complacency" in the UK over the issue and insisted "The world isn't like The Wind in the Willows".
The Government is still pushing ahead with plans for a pilot badger cull in Gloucestershire and Somerset this summer to stop the spread of Bovine TB.
Many farmers in Cornwall blighted by Bovine TB have welcomed the cull but campaigners say it will not solve the problem.
Mr Paterson told NZ Farmer: "There's much more reality here. Everyone's much more clued up to diseases. The world isn't like The Wind in the Willows."
And in what appeared to be an attempt to slap down campaigners such as Brian May he said: "I get slightly bored with these rather high-profile public entertainers sort of bossing around on this stuff."
