A new controversy has erupted as the UK government faces renewed accusations of manipulating science to justify the mass killing of badgers. Under the current Labour administration, a secretive review on bovine TB (bTB) control has been launched, but critics claim it is little more than a mechanism to “maintain the status quo” regarding the contentious badger cull.
The review, initiated in January by DEFRA under minister Daniel Zeichner, is purportedly designed to examine the latest evidence on bTB policy. However, concerns have been raised about the impartiality of the panel appointed to conduct the review. Rather than selecting neutral experts, DEFRA has again chosen long-time pro-cull academics and industry insiders—figures who have historically supported the policy they are now tasked with reviewing, reported by the canary.
Among these is Professor Charles Godfray of Oxford University, whose involvement in the 2018 bTB review helped justify the continuation of badger culling under Michael Gove. His reappointment has raised serious questions about conflicts of interest. Adding to the controversy, Oxford statistician Bernard Silverman, another panel member, is set to review research produced by his own institution—a move that many describe as a blatant breach of scientific independence.
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Wildlife campaign group Protect the Wild has been quick to respond. They assert that the review is not about assessing new scientific evidence but is instead designed to protect failed policies that have already resulted in the slaughter of over 230,000 badgers in England since 2013. In a scathing statement, Rob Pownall, Founder of Protect the Wild, said:
“This is yet another rigged review designed to rubber-stamp the killing of badgers. DEFRA is once again allowing a group of pro-cull insiders to dominate the debate, ensuring that independent voices are silenced. We demand that Charles Godfray step down immediately and that the entire panel be replaced with truly impartial experts. The public will not accept another sham review.”
Critics argue that for years, the government has ignored independent research showing that badger culling fails to control bTB in cattle. Instead, it has consistently relied on advice from those who originally crafted and defended the cull strategy. With the review underway, the BTB Partnership—overseen by figures closely tied to the livestock industry and pro-cull advocacy—appears to leave little room for unbiased judgment.
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In response to the scandal, Protect the Wild has launched a petition calling for the immediate removal of conflicted panel members, including Professor Godfray, and for the appointment of a truly independent panel to reassess bTB policy. The group is urging the public to sign the petition, contact Minister Daniel Zeichner, and share the story widely to pressure DEFRA into a more transparent and accountable review process.
This is not the first time the government has been forced to alter its approach. Earlier this year, mounting public pressure led to the scrapping of Rishi Sunak’s flawed consultation on badger culling. Advocates now hope that similar pressure will halt this sham review before it becomes another chapter in the ongoing debate over the future of badger culling in the UK.
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