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Bovine Tuberculosis Control and Badger Culling
13 October 2025
Lead MP
Irene Campbell
North Ayrshire and Arran
Lab
Responding Minister
Rebecca Pow
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Word Count: 15873
Other Contributors: 17
At a Glance
Irene Campbell raised concerns about bovine tuberculosis control and badger culling in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should stop issuing new licences for culls and focus on non-lethal interventions like enhancing biosecurity measures and cattle-based testing and vaccination.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The petition has gathered more than 102,000 signatures expressing concern over the badger cull. In the past decade, 278,000 infected cattle have been ordered to be slaughtered and more than 230,000 badgers have been culled. The petitioner’s view is that vaccinating badgers continues to blame them for bovine TB, which they believe is unjustified.
Alison Hume
Lab
Scarborough and Whitby
Acknowledged local groups dedicated to protecting badgers in their area and expressed support for an immediate end to badger culling. Cited concerns about the impact of current policies on wildlife protection.
Andrew George
Con
South Dorset
Proudly mentions that St Ives constituency led with the highest number of petition signatures. Discusses the emotional impact on farmers due to cattle culling and supports evidence-based policy making. Asked about the diagnostic instrument for vaccinated animals test and its progress over time. Inquired if there are enough vaccinators currently available and whether training mechanisms exist to increase their numbers. Questioned the validity of studies supporting badger culling, stating that the methodologies were flawed and did not compare like with like. Pressed for a more specific timeline on vaccination development, noting that rapid advancements were possible during the pandemic.
Ben Maguire
LD
North Cornwall
Urges for an increase in investment from £40 million to ensure effective vaccine roll-out. Emphasizes the significant cost of bovine TB, which is £150 million a year.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
She stated that a sustained badger cull does reduce TB rates, citing reports from Somerset and Gloucestershire showing a 50% reduction in TB. She argued against unnecessary culling but for the efficacy of current culling practices.
South Devon
Education and engagement with farmers are crucial to help them understand alternative ways to prevent the spread of bovine TB within their herds, as demonstrated by successful practices in other farms.
Cat Eccles
Lab
Stourbridge
Discussed the lack of evidence supporting badger culling, highlighting that alternative methods could be more cost-effective and humane.
Angela Eagle
Lab
Liverpool Walton
Stressed the importance of being prepared to scale up surveillance quickly while acknowledging financial constraints compared to the pandemic era.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Acknowledges the mental health impacts of bovine TB on farmers and veterinarians. Emphasises the need for a combination of tools to tackle the disease, including vaccination and surveillance improvements.
Sarah Hudson
Lab
Sheffield Central
Disagreed with Andrew George's critique of badger cull research, pointing to the Birch et al. study as a more accurate assessment of its effectiveness.
Gideon Amos
Con
Taunton and Wellington
Called upon the Government to reconsider why additional legislation is needed to kill badgers not for TB control but for general public purposes.
Irene Campbell
Lab
East Dunbartonshire
Thanked Members and the Minister for their contributions, emphasising the need to move quickly in ending bovine TB control through badger culling. Highlighted issues like biosecurity, testing regimes, and vaccine development.
Rachael Maskell
Ind
York Central
Joined petitioners in opposing badger cull, emphasising the need for better biosecurity and testing measures instead of culling. Asked the Minister to consider the methodology for scaling up capability, as seen in the pandemic response.
Honiton and Sidmouth
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should pay 100% compensation for additional cows introduced after an ongoing TB outbreak, highlighting the need for better support for farmers affected by TB.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Farming is both an emotional and a financial challenge, with compensation failing to cover the full impact of TB outbreaks. The current testing system is inadequate, leading to undetected infections in cattle and unnecessary losses for farmers. Called on the Government to develop safe, effective measures for controlling TB, focusing on testing cattle and investing in research.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Hereford
Discussed the complex epidemiology of bovine TB and its implications on wildlife reservoirs such as badgers.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
The constituency has been significantly affected by bovine TB. Over 250,000 badgers have been culled over a 12-year period. The Government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions for the killing of badgers if they interfere with housing development.
Tom Collins
Lab
Worcester
Highlighted concerns regarding the sensitivity of current testing methods and the need for a low-cost blood sampling rapid lateral flow antibody test. Emphasised the importance of developing solutions that can prevent infection while allowing detection of active infections.
Government Response
Rebecca Pow
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government Response
Addressed concerns about biosecurity and the need for investment in APHA's headquarters. Acknowledged the importance of developing better diagnostic tests and vaccine strategies to combat bovine TB. The Government are committed to ending the badger cull, with only one final licence remaining this season. Bovine TB has cost over £100 million a year and affected more than 274,000 cattle since 2013. The new bovine TB eradication strategy is being co-designed with stakeholders to address polarisation and move towards non-lethal interventions such as badger and cattle vaccination. Emphasised the need to ensure safety in vaccine deployment despite delays, outlined plans for scaling up badger vaccination, and presented a strategy for ending badger culling through alternative methods by 2038.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.