Mary warns against DIY Badger cull

Speaking to the Financial Times on 20 April, Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh warned the Tory led government that their plan to kill thousands of badgers to prevent the spread of bovine TB could spread the disease further.

The government seems set on allowing the free shooting of badgers in a cull designed to stop incidences of bovine TB. But badger culling has already been tried and failed to halt the spread of the disease. The Independent Scientific Group concluded that ‘badger culling cannot meaningfully contribute to the future control of cattle TB.’

On taking office the Tory/Lib Dem government cancelled 5 out of 6 vaccination trials which Labour planned and consulted on a cull instead.

Mary said "We have to listen to the science on this. Cancelling five of the six vaccine demonstration projects was such a mistake. There is not enough evidence that free shooting will help in fighting this terrible disease, and could actually make matters worse. This whole approach has all the hallmarks of another disaster in the making from Defra."

The National Trust have confirmed that they will be undertaking a badger vaccination pilot in Devon this summer. Read more here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13121520

Read the FT article here: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/608c5324-6b85-11e0-a53e-00144feab49a.html