Labour MPs have tabled an Opposition Day debate on the issue of badger culling. On Friday (31st May), Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh revealed that MPs would debate and vote on a motion reading "This House believes the badger cull should not go ahead."

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The debate is scheduled to go ahead on Wednesday (5th June). Ms Creagh said she would be working with MPs from across the political divide to "to stop this crazy scheme." On Friday she added, "We need a science-led policy to manage cattle movements better and prioritise badger and cattle vaccination to tackle bovine TB instead of a cull."

Though the debate will take place later this week, government licenses to begin culling badgers in two 'pilot areas' came into effect over the weekend, meaning companies of farmers are already cleared to begin killing badgers in the two zones.  

In October, MPs debated the badger cull shortly after the postponement of Defra's trial culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire. The debate saw cull opponents score an overwhelming victory against the coalition's culling policy, with 147 votes against culling to 28 for. However, as with Wednesday's upcoming debate, the challenge in October was not legally binding.

The government, backed by industry, believes that culling badgers can contribute to a reduction in bovine TB, though the trial culls currently active in the South-West will only examine whether 'free-shooting' badgers is effective, not whether the methodology has an impact on bTB incidences in the areas.

Defra maintains that 'wildlife reservoirs' of bovine TB must be controlled, though the disease can affect a number of animals besides cattle, humans and badgers (including domestic cats, deer, foxes and rodents). The architects of earlier cull trials, including Lord John Krebs, have come out in vehement opposition to the government's plans. In October, when pilot culls were due to start for the first time, Krebs Stated "The scientific case is as clear as it can be: this cull is not the answer to TB in cattle. The government is cherry-picking bits of data to support its case."

On Friday, Mary Creagh said culling would not provide the benefits that have been promised to farmers. She outlined the opposition's case against culling; "The Tory-led Government are pressing ahead with the free shooting of badgers despite leading scientists warning against this 'untested and risky approach'. The taxpayer will pay policing costs of £4 million for just two areas, while the cull will spread bovine TB in the next two years as the shooting displaces badgers."

On Tuesday, St Ives Liberal Democrat Andrew George backed plans to vaccinate badgers in Cornwall. The Welsh government rejected a proposed cull in favour of badger vaccination programme and tighter cattle controls last March. Mr George estimated the badger vaccination programme in Cornwall would cost half as much as the policing costs of the two trial culls in areas of Somerset and Gloucester.