Controversial Badger Protection Law Change Approved Despite Warnings from MPs and Conservationists.
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- May 16
- 2 min read
Updated: May 19
Proposed amendments to the Protection of Badgers Act (PoBA) were pushed through a Planning and Infrastructure Committee session yesterday, despite serious concerns from MPs and Badger Trust that the changes would significantly weaken legal protections and pave the way for the killing of badgers under vague development criteria.
The Planning and Infrastructure Committee held a session yesterday where they discussed Section 6 of the bill, which includes proposed amendments to the Protection of Badgers Act (PoBA). Minister Matthew Pennycook was present and spent most of the afternoon reiterating the same point: any amendments that would strengthen protections for nature were dismissed, because the proposals in the bill would not harm nature.
Gideon Amos introduced Badger Trust's submission. He raised serious concerns, stating that it is “a significant change in the law, from a power to interfere with badger setts and badgers to a power to kill badgers”. He continued to highlight how the term 'overriding public interest' is vague and “could be justified by any particular development”.
“[This is] a a significant change in the law, from a power to interfere with badger setts and badgers to a power to kill badgers” - Gideon Amos MP
His case was presented with passion and commitment, but Minister Pennycook maintained that badger protection was not being weakened—a claim that the committee did not accept.
Lewis Cocking, the MP for Broxbourne, questioned the minister about the necessity of the amendments to the PoBA, highlighting that they already had powers under that act. The minister responded that the amendments were needed to “ensure operability under the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF)” - whatever that means. Minister Pennycook repeatedly said that his peers “concerns in this area are unfounded”, without offering any justification as to why he believed this to be the case.
All six opposition MPs voted to protect badgers when the committee voted, but the Labour MPs, under strong party discipline on this bill, voted in favour. This resulted in a loss by nine votes to six.
Minister Pennycook acknowledged that he was in a difficult position and agreed to submit a written explanation to the committee to clarify the government's position.
While the situation is concerning, it is clear that badgers have supporters within Parliament.
Badger Trust will continue to advocate for badgers and explore other options to remove two clauses from the new Planning and Infrastructure bill that threaten to undermine the Act.
Badger Trust Chief Executive, Nigel Palmer, stated, "While this is a setback, we have other options. I want to thank all our groups and supporters for their significant impact; the influx of emails to their local MPs has made a difference. Today's result reflects politics over protection. Still, we remain resolute in our efforts to protect badgers."
We discuss the planning and infrastructure bill in more detail, including how the proposed system and changes to the law may affect badgers here.
