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25/06/2012
Badger Trust Take Opposition of Cull To High Court
The Badger Trust will today address the high court in opposition to controversial government plans to kill thousands of badgers.
The Trust will tell a judicial review that the action is neither legal nor scientifically justified.
Caroline Spelman, the secretary of state for environment, believes the cull is necessary to curb the rising number of tuberculosis infections in cattle, which led farmers to slaughter 25,000 animals in 2010 alone.
Cull opponents are also attacking the "undue influence" of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) in the decision to go ahead with the shooting of badgers across England.
In a February letter to the Badger Trust, officials at the environment department (Defra) argued that "advice from the NFU was so integral to the development of the cull policy" that it considered the NFU to be a part of the government in this instance, and would therefore not release its "internal" communications with the lobby group.
"The NFU has had an undue influence on the culling policy. My question is what do they have to hide?" said Jeff Hayden of the Badger Trust.
Gwendolen Morgan, a solicitor at Bindmans, who are representing the trust, said: "Whilst the NFU clearly have expertise on farming, the fact remains that they are an external, unelected, unaccountable lobby organisation. Defra's argument goes against accountability, transparency and good governance."
Hayden said the trust had a "duty" to make the high court challenge. "We are challenging this on legal and science grounds – we are neither bunny huggers nor violent activists – and we really don't think it will help reduce TB in cattle."
(H)
The Trust will tell a judicial review that the action is neither legal nor scientifically justified.
Caroline Spelman, the secretary of state for environment, believes the cull is necessary to curb the rising number of tuberculosis infections in cattle, which led farmers to slaughter 25,000 animals in 2010 alone.
Cull opponents are also attacking the "undue influence" of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) in the decision to go ahead with the shooting of badgers across England.
In a February letter to the Badger Trust, officials at the environment department (Defra) argued that "advice from the NFU was so integral to the development of the cull policy" that it considered the NFU to be a part of the government in this instance, and would therefore not release its "internal" communications with the lobby group.
"The NFU has had an undue influence on the culling policy. My question is what do they have to hide?" said Jeff Hayden of the Badger Trust.
Gwendolen Morgan, a solicitor at Bindmans, who are representing the trust, said: "Whilst the NFU clearly have expertise on farming, the fact remains that they are an external, unelected, unaccountable lobby organisation. Defra's argument goes against accountability, transparency and good governance."
Hayden said the trust had a "duty" to make the high court challenge. "We are challenging this on legal and science grounds – we are neither bunny huggers nor violent activists – and we really don't think it will help reduce TB in cattle."
(H)
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01 March 2005
Badger cull considered in plans to tackle bovine TB
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned that badgers could be culled in order to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Defra stressed that scientific, as well as other evidence, was "vital" to solving the problem.
Badger cull considered in plans to tackle bovine TB
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned that badgers could be culled in order to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Defra stressed that scientific, as well as other evidence, was "vital" to solving the problem.
07 July 2008
Government Says No To Badger Culling
The Government will not issue badger culling licences to prevent the spread of TB in England, the DEFRA Minister has confirmed. Hilary Benn said in a Commons statement that "while a large-scale cull could improve the situation" it "could also make the problem worse".
Government Says No To Badger Culling
The Government will not issue badger culling licences to prevent the spread of TB in England, the DEFRA Minister has confirmed. Hilary Benn said in a Commons statement that "while a large-scale cull could improve the situation" it "could also make the problem worse".
28 August 2015
Govt Announces Badger Cull To Be Extended Into Dorset
The Government has announced a badger cull used to tackle bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Somerset and Gloucestershire has been extended to Dorset. The National Farmers Union (NFU) welcomed the move, although stated its disappointment that the policy had not been applied further.
Govt Announces Badger Cull To Be Extended Into Dorset
The Government has announced a badger cull used to tackle bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Somerset and Gloucestershire has been extended to Dorset. The National Farmers Union (NFU) welcomed the move, although stated its disappointment that the policy had not been applied further.
09 September 2014
Year Two of Badger Cull Underway
The second year of a badger cull is now underway in Gloucestershire and Somerset. Almost 1,000 badgers are to be killed in the second year of the cull, which started last year in an effort to stop the spread of bovine TB. Some 1,800 badgers were culled in 2013.
Year Two of Badger Cull Underway
The second year of a badger cull is now underway in Gloucestershire and Somerset. Almost 1,000 badgers are to be killed in the second year of the cull, which started last year in an effort to stop the spread of bovine TB. Some 1,800 badgers were culled in 2013.
14 January 2014
Police Chiefs Reveal Cost Of Badger Cull
It cost almost £1,400 per badger to police the pilot cull scheme, according to a report by the BBC. It is understood that tweets posted by police and crime commissioner (PCC) Martin Surl revealed that the cull had cost "around £1.
Police Chiefs Reveal Cost Of Badger Cull
It cost almost £1,400 per badger to police the pilot cull scheme, according to a report by the BBC. It is understood that tweets posted by police and crime commissioner (PCC) Martin Surl revealed that the cull had cost "around £1.
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