Sunak commits to maintaining badger cull plans

When a farmer involved in the bTB cull asked if he could get a commitment to maintain the current plans, Mr Sunak said: “Yes, of course you can.”

Mr Sunak said bTB outbreaks are at their lowest in 20 years and “part of that is because of the success of the badger culls”.

He said the government are working on a bTB vaccine for cattle but stressed the need for ongoing culling.

“Culls have to be part of the solution,” he said.

“There’s no country that I think I know of where they’ve eliminated TB in cattle without eliminating it in possums or badgers or the equivalent wildlife”.

David Bowles, RSPCA’s head of public affairs, said: “We’re disappointed that the Conservatives want to persist with the inhumane and ineffective badger cull despite a landmark report, published in 2022, confirming our long-held assertion that culling badgers does not prevent bovine TB in cattle.

“We would like the next government to immediately end culling, fast track its proposed improvements to cattle-based measures, along with cattle and badger vaccination, which will be the best solution for badgers, cattle and farmers.”