In 2024, an update of the 2018 scientific review of bovine TB science was commissioned by Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner. It contracted a group of academics, many of whom are sympathetic to, and have a history enmeshed in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (1998-2005) science. This was part of a wider policy ‘refresh’ that Zeichner stated on multiple occasions, would be inclusive. However the review was done without a call for views.
Independent scientists were told that they would be offered an input into the other part of the bovine TB policy refresh promised by the Labour government. But they were excluded from any serious dialogue by civil servants, for reasons that remain unclear. Many formal objections were placed by the relevant organisations and individuals shut out of proper consultation, but these were effectively ignored with platitudes and delaying tactics.
In addition, policy recommendations were made by the notorious Bovine TB Steering Group, who are made up of cattle vets, NFU members, RBCT scientists and Defra contractors. A stage-managed meeting with Defra was contrived to minimize external expert involvement. There was no opportunity of any kind for input from independent scientists beyond complaint at the process. The result is a science review and policy recommendations that are inaccurate, mislead and that do not accurately reflect published science.
In January of this year, a critique of the Godfray review undertaken by an independent scientist was submitted to the new Defra Minister Angela Eagle. Concentrating on ‘Chapter 6. The Disease in Wildlife’, it highlights mistakes, inconsistencies and problematic interpretations. No response was received, and in fact it was not even acknowledged, neither was an updated version sent in May.
A further version of the critique is available here
Bovine TB policy is broken, advised by a tight group of academics who have much to lose now that their multiple ‘badger blame’ reports are exposed as inconclusive. Industry and civil servants who have steered £ Billions of waste public funds to no long-term advantage, will join them.