Brian May Criticizes Labour for Badger Culling Policy Change

Sir Brian May, the 77-year-old guitarist and animal rights advocate, has expressed strong discontent with the new Labour government's handling of the badger cull, a controversial measure aimed at controlling Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in livestock. May, who has been a vocal opponent of the cull since its inception over a decade ago, described it as an "unnecessary crime" and called for a significant public outcry against the government's actions. He highlighted Labour's 2024 manifesto commitment to collaborate with farmers and scientists to eradicate bTB without resorting to culling badgers. In a recent BBC documentary, Sir Brian investigates alternative methods to address the bTB crisis, emphasizing that current detection techniques are ineffective. His research team successfully declared a farm bTB-free through improved testing and hygiene practices, without the need for a badger cull. May argues that substantial evidence indicates badgers are not responsible for the spread of bTB, challenging the government's justification for the culling policy. Despite his disappointment with the Labour government's failure to halt the cull, which is set to continue until at least 2026 under existing licenses, May remains hopeful for change. He urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to take immediate action to revoke these licenses, asserting that the cull has proven ineffective. The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has maintained that the cull is beneficial, a stance that May criticizes as misguided. Speaking from Windlesham, Surrey, where his group collaborates with Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue, May reiterated the need for a comprehensive TB eradication strategy that includes vaccination, herd management, and enhanced biosecurity measures, rather than reliance on culling.