The end of the badger cull is in sight after the government announced a shift called for by the Prime Minister’s fiancée.

George Eustice, the environment secretary, announced on Thursday that the government would be phasing out intensive culling in favour of vaccinating badgers and cattle.

He said he does not want to continue killing the animals "indefinitely" so has welcomed new methods to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The government’s scheme has killed at least 100,000 badgers since 2013.

Farmers have maintained that killing badgers is currently the most effective way to protect their cattle from tuberculosis.

It is one of the most pressing issues facing the industry, as more than 30,000 cattle are slaughtered each year due to infection from bTB.

The Prime Minister’s fiancée, Carrie Symonds, is understood to be “very pleased” with the decision. She has tweeted her support for ending the cull on multiple occasions.

Some have criticised her in the past for her outspoken views.The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has previously accused the environment campaigner of influencing her partner on badger cull related issues, as it prepares to take the government to court over its decision to halt a cull in Derbyshire last year.

Animal rights advocates have welcomed having an outspoken ally in Downing Street. She is friends with the head of the Badger Trust, Dominic Dyer, who has previously said he has passed on letters about the cull to give to the Prime Minister through her. She also met with the badger campaigner in Downing Street last August to discuss the issue.