Truss confirms badger cull will continue

New Defra secretary Liz Truss has confirmed that the badger cull pilots will continue for a second year this summer in the south-west of England.

In her first oral questions session in the House of Commons since her appointment, Ms Truss said the culls – part of government plans to combat bovine TB – would continue in Somerset and Gloucestershire as planned.

In addition, Defra has no plans to reinstate the independent expert panel to oversee the humaneness and efficacy of the culling method of controlled shooting, the minister confirmed.

However, Ms Truss will be asking Natural England, the government agency licensing the cull, to assess the results of the culling methods.

Echoing the sentiments of her predecessor, Owen Paterson, Ms Truss told MPs: “We must use every tool in our toolbox to address this threat to our beef and dairy industries.”

Read also: NFU ‘confident’ badger cull will not be scrapped

The decision to continue with the culls will be welcomed by most farmers whose herds are being struck down with TB.

But it will infuriate animal welfare groups and opposition MPs who hoped that the sacking of Owen Paterson would signal the end of the culls.

Writing on Twitter, shadow Defra secretary Maria Eagle said she was “very disappointed” that the culls would be continuing with no scientific evaluation.

Speaking on other agricultural issues, Ms Truss said the government wanted to help more young people understand where their food comes from.

She also said she was “determined” to negotiate strongly for agriculture at EU level.