Spelman 'reasonably confident' on badger culls this year
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman MP has declared herself “reasonably confident” that two pilot badger culls in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset will go ahead in spite of legal challenges in the High Court by the animal welfare charity Badger Trust.
Commenting, the Minister said that “It was perfectly reasonable to anticipate a legal challenge, because the Welsh government was challenged. We factored that into the time, and we’re reasonably confident we’ll come through this and that our pilots will remain on track for the autumn. That’s one of the reasons why I took my time to make the decision. We did approach the decision with incredible care to try to make sure we don’t fall down on a technicality. We’ve thought about every possible dimension.”
The Minister also added that “Although it was a difficult decision, I’m sure it was the right thing to do. If the decision was put off, then it just allows the disease to go on marching up the countryside and the bill to keep increasing. In ten years’ time this would cost the taxpayer £1 billion – that’s a lot of money.”
Livestock keepers are being urged to stay vigilant for Bluetongue (BTV-3) following confirmation of the disease in a ewe. The case, confirmed in Staffordshire on 23 June 2026, represents the first confirmed case of infection this summer.
