Stop the badger cull petition outcome
On October 13th 2025, Parliament held a debate on Bovine Tuberculosis Control and Badger Culling due to the successful petitioning from Protect the Wild, which gathered more than 102,000 signatures. Their petition demanded an immediate end to the badger cull and the implementation of cattle-focused measures to control bTB.
Many of those speaking in the debate agreed that the badger cull is cruel, inhumane, and must come to an end.
It was noted that over 250,000 badgers have been culled in the UK in the last 10 years, despite evidence that culling makes “no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control.”
Andrew George MP cited a 2021 study from the University of Cambridge which found that bovine TB is 17 times more likely to spread between cattle than to originate from badgers.
government position
During the debate, Dame Angela Eagles, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, spoke on the government’s position. There will not be an immediate end to badger culling, but rather the government will continue with its deadline to stop the cull by the end of this parliament through a gradual reduction.
At the height of the badger cull, there were 73 licenses to cull badgers; in this season, there are 21. By the end of this season, there will remain one licensed cull in a TB ‘hot spot’ area in Cumbria.
Alongside a reduction in culling, the government are increasing investment in cattle and badger vaccinations, which will be supported by improved testing that differentiates between vaccinated and infected animals. They are also emphasising the need for better biosecurity measures, including raising water troughs and securing feed stores.
VERIFY HUMANITY'S RESPONSE
Verify Humanity remains disappointed that the government has not committed to an immediate end to the badger cull as supported by the scientific evidence.
How many more badgers will unnecessarily die before the cull comes to an end?
We are however pleased that the petition has raised the profile of this issue whilst keeping pressure on the government to end the cull. We are also encouraged by the increased awareness demonstrated in the debate of cattle-to-cattle transmission as the leading cause of bTB.