9th October, 2013, 11:59 am

Tory Cabinet Minister says “badgers are moving the goalposts”

Congratulations to Owen Patterson, the Secretary of State for DEFRA, who has come out with one of the all time great nonsense quotes of our time (via Patrick Wintour):

“I am not moving the goalposts. The badgers are moving the goalposts.”

Damn those crafty goalpost shifting badgers…

Tags: Owen Patterson / Badgers /

More from LabourList

Comment

‘On ‘big tech’ good regulation helps good growth’

Labour is gripped by a leadership debate centred on a perceived tension between stimulating economic growth and tackling…

Theo Bamber

10th June, 2026, 6:00 am

Comment

‘Identity matters: Why ‘Just For Scotland’ is starting the conversation about an independent Scottish Labour Party’

Writing in early 2020, the words of Monica Lennon (MSP 2016-26) now feel prophetic. “In Scotland, the party…

Jack McConnel

10th June, 2026, 6:00 am

News

Union leaders dismiss Farage invitation to affiliate to Reform UK

Union leaders have rejected an invitation by Nigel Farage to quit Labour and affiliate with Reform UK. In…

Daniel Green

9th June, 2026, 2:32 pm