Responding to the conclusions of the
'Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) strategy review 2018' [1],
Keith Taylor MEP, the Green Party's spokesperson on animal
rights, said:
"This report makes for frustrating reading.
The findings make it clear that cattle movements, land management
and poor biosecurity measures are the main driving force behind
the spread of bTB in England. At the same time, it highlights
that the main use of the inhumane and hugely expensive badger
cull is to placate farmers otherwise reluctant to take the less
bloodthirsty but more effective
measures."
"It is worth pointing out, as Sir Godfray
does, that the review was specifically asked not to look at the
effectiveness of the current badger cull with Ministers fearful
it would have exposed the fact the government has consistently
been unable to muster any reliable data to demonstrate its
effectiveness."
"Ultimately, the report calls on the
government to urgently adopt humane and effective bTB controls,
including vaccinations, that aren't based on blind ideology or
appeasing vested interests. It is time to end to put an end to
the Tories' mass badger extermination programme once and for
all."
On claims that the report supports the current
culling programme, Mr Taylor, Vice Chair of the European
Parliament's Animal Welfare Intergroup,
added:
"Anyone spinning today's findings as a
vindication of the current badger cull is deliberately misleading
the public and farmers. The government explicitly limited the
scope of this review to ensure it couldn't be critical of nor
call for an end to the current inhumane badger cull policy [2].
But, as veterinary surgeons exposed only yesterday [3], lies and
misrepresentation are a common tactic used to defend the
Conservatives' cruel, expensive and ineffective
cull."
Notes to
editor
