However, Miliband bottled it. Despite the Defra view that policy should be based on science, in his Ministerial Statement following publication of the report, Miliband said that he would 'continue to work with the industry, government advisers and scientific experts.' The ISG was set up by the government to carry out the experiment that would tell government if culling badgers worked in reducing bTB. They did the experiment, and culling badgers doesn't work. It is to be hoped that new Secretary of State Hilary Benn doesn't rely for scientific advice on the head of the TB Advisoty Group, Peter Jinman who is pro badger culling. The ISG have done their job and given a clear answer to the question they were asked. Party members both urban and rural should now pressure Benn to act on the recommendations of the report.

To sum up: killing badgers doesn't work. Improving cattle based measures will reduce the incidence of TB and cost less money. It's a no brainer.