Labour pledges to ban badger cull

NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said it was 'something the union had been fearing'

Alex Black
clock • 1 min read
Labour pledges to ban badger cull

Labour has pledged to ban the badger cull, with the NFU stating the industry would find it 'hard to come to terms with' the party's stance.

Speaking to the Guardian, Daniel Zeichner,  shadow farming minister, said: "I have spent a long time looking at this. The 2018 Godfrey review, the last piece of work done by the government, found that badger culling is not the answer.

Listen: Farmers Guardian podcast: Labour's Daniel Zeichner answers farmers questions on right to roam

"We are going to make England bovine TB free by 2038, but with a range of measures that do not include culling."

See more: Labour struggling to win rural vote, according to new survey

Responding to news, NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said it was something the union had been fearing and it had been doing everything possible to work with Labour to help them understand the importance of the controlled wildlife programme as an essential part of TB control.

He added the decision would be one that the industry would find it hard to come to terms with.

More on Politics

Farmers hand out flyers to public at protest outside Antrim Tesco

Farmers hand out flyers to public at protest outside Antrim Tesco

Farmers for Action (FFA) NI said the event was part of its ‘IHT and more’ protest campaign

Alex Black
clock 06 February 2026 • 1 min read
NFUS Conference 2026: 'We will keep fighting to reverse IHT for farmers'

NFUS Conference 2026: 'We will keep fighting to reverse IHT for farmers'

Some of the issues raised at the landmark event included Inheritance Tax changes, the threat of animal disease, Bovaer and how the rise of Reform in England could help the SNP win the Holyrood Parliamentary Election in May

Chris Brayford
clock 05 February 2026 • 12 min read
Efra Committee: UK farmers must not be disadvantaged in new EU deal

Efra Committee: UK farmers must not be disadvantaged in new EU deal

Latest Efra Committee report calls for Gov to consider actions to avoid undermining animal welfare and precision breeding progress

clock 05 February 2026 • 3 min read