NFU responds to Steve Backshall piece in The Times

23 September 2020

NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts has responded to a column in The Times by wildlife filmmaker Steve Backshall in order to correct a variety of inaccuracies in his column, including a claim that the badger cull does not work:

Sir,

A letter is barely sufficient to correct all of the inaccuracies in Steve Backshall’s Thunderer column. Where do I begin? Contrary to what he wrote, the facts are that:

  • Peer-reviewed evidence shows that badger culling is working, delivering reductions in bovine TB of up to 66%.
  • Over 60% of new TB incidents in High Risk Areas are attributed to badgers.
  • Peer-reviewed research shows no evidence that infected badgers move out of cull zones and infect badgers elsewhere
  • There is no peer-reviewed evidence that shows badger vaccination delivering reductions in TB breakdowns in cattle.

It is a shame that this column was so inaccurate and misleading on an issue which continues to devastate farming families up and down the country, causing them huge strain mentally, emotionally and financially.  We welcome debate but please, stick to the facts.

Stuart Roberts

NFU Deputy President

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