Shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle has pledged to abandon badger culls in South-West England if the Labour Party wins the upcoming general election.

image expired

Speaking from the Labour Party Conference, being held this week in Manchester, Maria Eagle said, "A Labour government will tackle the scourge of Bovine TB, but not by using a policy dubbed 'an epic failure' by the Chief Scientific Advisor of Natural England. I want to make it clear today. We will put a stop to these inhumane, ineffective badger culls."

Eagle continued, "People want to see the recovery of our natural environment rather than its non-stop degradation and decline… Respect for nature and the creatures with which we share our world instead of the killing and culling and poisoning we all too often see.

"The record of this Government is appalling. Far from being the 'greenest government ever' as they promised, things have been going backwards."

Ms Eagle's announcement follows a promise made last week by shadow farming minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who said Labour would abandon the "failed" badger culls if the party wins the 2015 general election, and focus instead on cattle-based measures and vaccination, borrowing from the Welsh government's approach to bovine TB.  

Two pilot badger culls, which resumed in areas of Somerset and Gloucestershire earlier this month, are slated to last until 2016. The Conservatives plan to extend culling to new areas if they remain in power. Farming minister George Eustice said last week that no new announcements would be made about culling until after the election next May.  

Animal welfare charities have welcomed the Labour Party's pledge. Mark Jones, a vet and spokesperson for Humane Society International's UK arm said, "The cull has been an unmitigated disaster from the start, and lacks any scientific credibility whatsoever. The ongoing activities in Somerset and Gloucestershire clearly risk making the situation for farmers worse not better, and are responsible for continued horrendous badger suffering.

"Labour's promise to abandon the cull is the only honourable, ethical and science-led thing to do."