Labour manifesto risks undermining TB eradication, says NFU

NFU leaders have hit out at Labour for referring to the badger cull as “ineffective” in its party manifesto.

The sentence in question in the manifesto said: “We will work with farmers and scientists on measures to eradicate bovine TB, protecting livelihoods, so that we can end the ineffective badger cull.”

Tom Bradshaw, NFU president, said: “There was one word mentioned in the Labour manifesto out of the 87, the ‘ineffective’ word, which I know has hurt a lot of our members.”

See also: Bovine TB cattle slaughterings up 17% in Wales

“It’s hurt those who have committed a huge amount of time and effort. But more worryingly, it risks undermining the eradication of TB.

“That is what everybody is committed to doing, eradicating TB from the country by 2038, and we do need all of the tools available.”

Mr Bradshaw said to throw it all away now would be a tragic shame.

NFU livestock board chairman David Barton added that the comment by Labour was ill-judged and ill-advised and that the cull had in fact been very effective, leading to 74% fewer skin reactors after four years in some areas.

“When I read that sentence and one word ‘Ineffective’, it became personal – and it will be personal to farmers and members in this room as well,” Mr Barton said.

“Those of us who have invested eight years of our lives, much of that time was taken up running and efficiently, humanely and safely delivering government policy on killing badgers to reduce bovine TB.”

He added: “There is a job for us to do and that will be to educate, enlighten and engage, and I know we will do that professionally when the time comes.

“We cannot let this slip backwards; that is absolutely essential.”

Farmers Weekly contacted the Labour party for comment.

A Labour spokesperson said: “Bovine TB is a serious threat to livestock farmers, and it can be utterly devastating to their livelihoods. 

“The next Labour government is committing to eradicating TB.

“We will work with farmers and scientists to introduce a TB eradication package, rolling out vaccination, herd management and biosecurity programs to protect farmers’ livelihoods, so we can then end the badger cull.”