WEST Somerset’s MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has hit out at the ‘gutter tactics’ used by someone purporting to represent anti-badger cull protestors who sent him a threatening text message.

The text called Mr Liddell-Grainger “dirty venom toff” and warned him to stop supporting the badger cull or “we will come find you and your family”.

But, Mr Liddell-Grainger, said the message – which he has passed on the police – could only backfire on the campaign to disrupt an operation designed to help clean up Britain’s worst-ever TB epidemic.

He said the message showed the true colours of those with whom Shadow Defra Secretary Kerry McCarthy was aligning herself: “People who are prepared to sink to the gutter, and even lower.”

The message was received as the second official badger cull continued in Mr Liddell-Grainger’s Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency.

He has made no secret of his support for reducing the huge local population of badgers which is blamed for causing persistent TB outbreaks on livestock farms.

And this is not the first time pro-badger groups have targeted him: two years ago he had a dead badger dumped on his doorstep.

“Sadly this is just the kind of intimidation dozens of my constituents have had to put up with, most of them hard-working farmers whose only mission is to keep the nation fed despite the ravages of a disease – and a disease, let’s not forget, which was allowed to rampage out of control because Labour refused to do anything to curb it.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger said no threats were going to weaken his support for the culling operation.

“We have to press on because it offers the only hope of restoring the UK to TB-free status,” he said.

“I am certainly not going to be intimidated by the rabble – the all-purpose agitators who turn up to demonstrate about everything whether it’s badger-culling or a new nuclear power station.

“As this message clearly demonstrates they are not the sort of people with whom one can ever have a well-informed and rational debate.”

* The text told Mr Liddell-Grainger: “... watch what you say sunshine because i knew where you and your family live.  We will come find you and your family then you realise what a cull is. 

“Don’t cross paths with me i will throw brick in you ugly  little face of yours.  You such dirty venom toff.  Watch your back and keep your silly mouth shut or close it for you understand.   Little weasel man and all you other toff posh idiots you laughing stock.  Just be warned if you want to be safe.”