Badgers can't vote.
You can.
2024 General Election
The General Election was called for 4 July 2024 and we looked forward to clarity from the main political parties on their vision for badgers and their natural habitats.
In particular, we wanted to know their plans for the future of the badger cull, an ineffective, costly and unethical policy of mass killing badgers to control bovine TB. It’s not a cull, it’s a slaughter.
​
Badger Trust welcomes a new government as a chance to make nature and the environment the priorities they urgently need to be. We most welcome an opportunity to reset the policy on the terrible slaughter of badgers in the badger cull – the biggest assault on native wildlife in our lifetimes.
The Labour manifesto described the badger cull as ineffective and promised to end it.
There is no time to waste. We will seek urgent clarification that this can be done immediately so that thousands of badger lives can be saved, together with millions of pounds of taxpayer money. It's time for a more focused set of cattle-based measures to deal with this disease effectively while protecting nature.​
​
Plaid Cymru
"Plaid Cymru will introduce a broader approach to tackling bovine TB which includes controlling the disease in wildlife."
Conservative
No manifesto statement on badger culling or bovineTB. However, Sunak confirmed that
Conservatives will continue badger culling if they win the election.
Reform
No statement on badger culling or bovineTB
The main parties across England and Wales issued manifestos for the 2024 general election. We did a more detailed analysis of how they stack up for nature and badgers, but the key lines on the badger cull and bovine TB are above. Please note England is the only nation in the UK that presently culls badgers.​
Stop Press Election Result: New Labour Government
Green
"To better protect animals and their habitats Green MPs will push for an end to badger culling."
Labour
"We will work with farmers and scientists on measures to eradicate Bovine TB, protecting livelihoods, so that we can end the ineffective badger cull." However, Labour's DEFRA lead, Steve Reed, recently confirmed that Labour will continue to allow pre-existing licences, killing up to 30,000 more badgers.
Liberal Democrat
"Ensure Britain continues to be a world leader in animal welfare and standards by developing safe, effective, humane, and evidence-based ways of controlling bovine tuberculosis, including by investing to produce workable vaccines."
What you can do
Here are some easy ways you can get involved and show your support for badgers this general election. Whatever you do could make a real difference in their lives.
Sign our petition to End the Cull
It's time to stop the slaughter.
​
Sign our petition and show future policymakers you want protection, not extinction.
Write to your General Election candidates
Send a letter to your parliamentary candidates asking for their views on issues that affect badgers — our template will help you get started.
Or copy text from our editable version to personalise it and add your views.
​
Raise local awareness about the badger cull
Get informed and share the facts! Need help?
1. Read End the Cull 2024.
​
2. Order your FREE End The Cull Action Pack. Your pack contains an information leaflet and postcards to hand to your parliamentary candidates and their representatives if they come knocking for your vote.
Our Manifesto for Badgers
We’re voting badger! As a registered charity, Badger Trust is non-partisan and does not endorse any party—we only support badgers!
​
What we’re asking all political parties
End the badger cull now
230,000 badgers—half the estimated population—have been killed since 2012 in a failed attempt to control bovine TB in farmed cows. Protect the remaining wild badger population before it’s too late.
Deliver the rapid development and roll-out of a compulsory cattle vaccine and an improved cattle test
94% of bovine TB is spread from cow to cow, not badgers. Stamp out bTB infection in the cattle herd and protect both farmed cows and wildlife.
Be honest about the true levels of bTB hidden in the English cattle herd
The standard bovine TB test for cows is unreliable and can miss up to 50% of bTB infections. Introduce compulsory nationwide use of more sensitive (reliable) cattle testing, and give enhanced compensation to affected farmers.
Commit to a ‘One Health and One Welfare’ approach to UK ecosystems
Support farmers to integrate effective cattle-based bTB control measures into their animal welfare and environmental sustainability practices.
​
Make badger persecution notifiable
Badger crime is not currently listed as a notifiable offence, so the police have to rely upon badger crime statistics from us and other wildlife organisations to assess national badger persecution trends.
​
Extend the maximum sentence for convictions
Badger persecution needs a stronger deterrent. It's time to extend maximum sentences from six months to five years under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) so they’re in line with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021.
​
Make space for badgers and other wildlife and prevent further habitat loss
Ensure new development protects and enhances our natural environment. The rapid rise of property and road development across England and Wales presents significant risks to badgers and other wildlife.
​
Restore Nature Now and address the UK’s nature crisis
71% of the public think politicians aren’t protecting UK nature enough for future generations*. Support policies protecting badgers and their habitats.
*via Restore Nature Now
​
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world
Killing 230,000 native badgers—half the estimated population—is at the very heart of this unnecessary attack on nature. Badgers also face threats from high rates of wildlife crime and the rapid rise of property and road development.
​
Badgers have called Britain their home for 250,000 years. They have been an integral part of our shared landscape for generations.
​
As ecosystem engineers, badgers provide many benefits to other species. Threats to badgers and their spaces are threats to the balance of our natural environment.
Save badgers, save nature.
Protection not extinction.
More ways you can take action for badgers
Here are some more ways you can get involved and show your support for badgers this general election. Whatever you do could make a real difference in their lives.
Get active for badgers
At Restore Nature Now we marched peacefully with thousands of fellow nature and wildlife supporters.
Badger Group volunteers all over the UK took part in our End The Cull Week of Action. And thousands of you wrote, spoke up and shared our messages to raise awareness of threats to badgers.
​
Keep going! YOU make a difference to badgers.
Save badgers. Save nature.​
Volunteer to help badgers
Get involved with your local badger group. Volunteers at badger groups across the country stand up for badgers.
They do vital work within their community to rescue and rehabilitate injured badgers and protect them and their habitats.
.png)
Election deadlines
By 18 June: register to vote
​
By 19 June: apply for a postal vote
​
By 26 June: apply for proxy vote;
apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (photo ID)
​
On 4 July: VOTE!
​
Your voice matters. Your vote matters.
Your election resources
Write a letter to your parliamentary candidates
-
Download a template letter you can personalise and send to your parliamentary candidates.
-
Ask for their views on the badger cull and their visions for badgers and their natural habitats.
-
Need help with your letter? Use our How to Write to your MP letter-writing tips.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers, their setts and their habitats.
What we’re doing
We will continue to do all that we can to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers, their setts and their habitats. We will work with all people who share those aims and want to see nature protected, not driven to extinction levels. ​
