Confusion and disappointment as Labour now say they will not end the badger cull immediately

Steve Reed, Labour’s Defra lead, has confirmed that Labour will continue to allow pre-existing cull licences, killing up to 30,000 more badgers.

The key word in the Labour manifesto about the badger cull was that it was ‘ineffective’. Yet Steve Reed, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, recently said on Radio 4’s Farming Today that if Labour were to get into power on the 4th July election, they would continue to allow the pre-existing cull licences. These licences can run until 2026 — so Labour will be signing off on further badger killing and committing taxpayers to paying for the “ineffective” culling of badgers for a further year and a half

Page 60 of the Labour government manifesto states:

“And we will work with farmers and scientists on measures to eradicate Bovine TB, protecting livelihoods, so that we can end the ineffective badger cull.” 

This word ‘ineffective’ is crucial as it sums up the whole badger cull policy aimed at reducing bTB in cattle. 

It does not work. 

The fact that the Labour Party chose to include this word so publicly and prominently in their manifesto was a ray of hope for many pro-wildlife communities. 

“Shocks into the system”

Steve Reed was concerned that an immediate end to the cull would send “shocks into the system”.

“We’re not going to end any of the existing licences, let me be clear on that, we don’t want to send any sudden shocks into the system.”

However, Steve Reed’s latest announcement has instead sent “shocks into the system” of thousands of wildlife hopefuls, who thought Labour might end the cruel and ineffective badger cull immediately.  

Continuing to cull badgers until 2026, even though Labour has publicly announced that culling is ineffective, will mean around 30,000 more individual badger lives will be lost to this cruel cull and further millions wasted on an ineffective policy.

Thirty thousand lives is not an insignificant number. It is significant to the individual badgers who lose their lives, the badger families torn apart because of it, the badger population that is already struggling against so many threats, and the wildlife communities that tirelessly campaign to end the cull.  

The threat of local extinction events in areas of high culling remains, and further badger killing could push more areas to lose badgers for the first time in 250,000 years.

Having now used the term ‘ineffective’ in the Labour manifesto, any potential incoming Labour government could be acting unlawfully should they continue with the badger cull.  Issuing new licences to cull badgers, having publicly acknowledged that they are ‘ineffective’, could breach Section 10 (2) of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.  Something that Badger Trust will continue to investigate.

The current decision to allow the ongoing licences until 2026, together with Steve Reed’s concern about sending “sudden shocks into the system” is presumably a tactical move to ensure support from sections of the farming industry.  It also highlights the power that certain agricultural lobby groups have.

Sustainable and ethical alternatives are available 

Yet the communities of thousands of people who care for our wildlife and the natural world, as was seen in the Restore Nature Now March last weekend, are sidelined and ignored despite being voters and taxpayers.  Public opinion strongly favours humane and scientifically sound policies.  To continue with badger culling risks further alienating communities and conservationists deeply invested in protecting our natural heritage. Policy decisions must reflect both scientific consensus and public sentiment to ensure sustainable and ethical outcomes.  

Government reports show that 94% of bTB is spread from cattle to cattle, so alternative approaches, such as improving biosecurity measures on farms and effective, reliable and accurate testing regimes plus cattle vaccination, are far more effective in controlling the spread of bTB. These methods are more humane and in line with successful long-term disease management in livestock and biodiversity conservation strategies without the ethical, ecological, and ineffective cattle disease control drawbacks associated with badger culling.  

Call for an immediate end to the cull

Badger Trust urges the Labour Party to reconsider its stance on badger culling and to call for an immediate end to the cull should they win political power on the 4th July.  

Collaboration with scientific experts, conservation organisations, and farming communities can lead to more effective and compassionate strategies for managing bTB, benefiting both wildlife and agricultural interests. 

We recommend any new government starts with an honest assessment of the true level of disease in English cattle using a test that is at least as sensitive and reliable as that used across Wales as standard. The unreliable test English farmers are forced to use as standard may keep infection levels hidden.

If Labour does get into power on 4th July, we hope we can work together towards a solution that respects and protects our wildlife while addressing the concerns of the farming community.

What you can do 

You can still make a difference in the run-up to the general election and afterwards, regardless of who is in power:

• In any interactions with Labour candidates, let them know that you are grateful they have acknowledged that the badger cull is ‘ineffective’.

• Remind them and candidates from all parties that continuing to cull badgers until 2026 could kill another 30,000 badgers — potentially breaching the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and going against public opinion on the cull. There are other more effective means of reducing bTB in cattle, namely with cattle measures.

• Read our Badger Manifesto and check out our tips for easy ways to stand up for badgers this general election, download free resources and read the latest news — we’re updating our information as we get it.