Backbench MPs yesterday voted in support of the e-petition that was started by animal rights campaigners calling on the government to abandon plans to cull badgers.

Following a five-hour debate, that was scheduled after the e-petition gained enough support from the public, 147 MPs voted in favour of a motion calling on the government to drop the cull and 28 disagreed. There are a total of 645 MPs.

The RSPCA, which is one of the charities involved in the campaign to stop the cull, welcomed the vote. Chief executive Gavin Grant said: “Now the government must listen to the voice of the House, of leading scientists and of the people, and confine all ideas of a badger cull to the history books for the sake of badgers, cows, dairy farmers and rural communities alike.”

Starting the debate in the House of Commons Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavillion, said: “Although Tuesday’s announcement that the pilot cull will be postponed until next summer was very welcome, it does not amount to a change of policy.”

She explained that: “More than 163,000 members of the public have signed the e-petition launched by animal campaigner and Queen guitarist Brian May. I pay tribute to all of them, to Brian himself, to Team Badger and to all those individuals who played a role in mobilising public opposition to the cull.”

Lucas called on the government to “invest in studies to determine exactly how and whether badger vaccination can work on a larger scale, in co-operation with organisations such as the National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts, which are already taking a lead in carrying out vaccine trials”.

Defra minister: Disease could cost £1bn

Defending the government’s position David Heath (Liberal Democrat), minister of state for environment, food and rural affairs, said: “If we do not take the action needed now, this disease [bovine TB] could cost us £1bn over the next ten years.”

He added: “Having looked at all the evidence over many years, I am utterly convinced that badger control is the right thing to do. Indeed, the higher-than-expected badger numbers only serve to underline the need for urgent action. I remain fully committed to working with the farming industry to ensure that the pilot culls can be delivered effectively, safely and humanely next summer.”

The government is not bound by motions voted for by backbench MPs but Heath said that the government would listen to views expressed.

Earlier this week the government postponed the start of the pilot cull, in Gloucestershire and Somerset, until early next year after the National Farmers Union wrote to the government explaining that there were more badgers than anticipated in the cull area so culling the required number would not be possible immediately.