Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, responding to the Badger Trust having been granted permission by a judge for a Judicial Review challenge in the High Court against the DEFRA Secretary of State Owen Paterson and Natural England, said:

“Earlier this year an Independent Expert Panel of scientist concluded that the Government’s badger culls in Gloucester and Somerset were ineffective and inhumane.

“So instead of continuing with scientific oversight Ministers confirmed that they will no longer allow further independent scrutiny of their failed policy when the culls resume later this year.

“The Labour Party has said consistently that the Government must put scientific rigor ahead of the Secretary of State’s personal opinions and allow the badger culls to be independently monitored.”