Labour Conference met with defiant message to END THE CULL

On Thursday 4th July the UK General Election was held and the public voted for Keir Starmer’s Labour Party to form the next Government. Labour ran on the promise of “change” but two and a half months on, we’re struggling to find it. In many ways it still feels like we’re living under a Conservative government.

Labour’s Manifesto stated two key things concerning wildlife

1. “We will ban trail hunting and the import of hunting trophies.”

2. “We will work with farmers and scientists on measures to eradicate Bovine TB, protecting livelihoods, so that we can end the ineffective badger cull.

Despite describing the Badger cull as “ineffective”, Labour have:

• Signed off dozens of Badger cull contracts approved by the previous Govt as opposed to scrapping them

• Approved a whole NEW Badger cull to begin in Cumbria

• Confirmed that Badger culling could continue until at least the next election (2029)

  ---

As of right now Labour are letting down voters and they are letting down wildlife.

So that’s why we’re joining Betty Badger outside the Labour Conference today until Wednesday calling on the change that was promised to actually be delivered. Our demands are simple

• Properly ban hunting with hounds

• End the Badger cull with immediate effect

We cannot afford to sit around and wait as a new hunting season begins and countless mammals are chased and tormented across the British countryside. And for every day that passes that the Badger cull continues, innocent Badgers are being slaughtered to protect the failings of the industrialised farming industry.

We have the evidence.

Our case for a proper ban on hunting outlines the blatant illegal hunting of wildlife that persists due to the loopholes and failings of the 2004 Hunting Act.

And scientific study after scientific study continually proves that the culling of Badgers has done nothing to deal with the spread of bTB. The issue lies in the herd and with improving biosecurity measures. Scapegoating an iconic British mammal is not the answer and Sir Brian May’s recent documentary proved just that.

Our demo outside the Labour Conference serves as another reminder that people do care about British wildlife. At the time of writing this email, 126,000+ people have signed Protect the Wild’s petition for a proper ban on hunting and 45,000+ have backed our calls for an immediate end to the Badger cull.

The power lies in the hands of those at DEFRA to push the “change” over the line.

Allowing the senseless Badger cull to continue until 2029 and taking no action against hunts wreaking havoc and distress towards animals and people will be unforgivable. Labour have a huge opportunity to change the status quo and to make meaningful change for animals and it is on us to do everything in our power to ensure it happens.

---

ADOPT A BADGER AND SUPPORT US FURTHER

At Protect the Wild we are campaigning against badger persecution and the ongoing badger cull.

By adopting a badger with Protect the Wild you will help fund our efforts to protect badgers and help expose wildlife crimes committed against wild badger populations. 

As an adopter, not only will you be helping fund vital work, but you will also receive an exclusive Protect the Wild adoption pack including cuddly toy, glossy photo, and an information fact sheet.