Conservatives pledge support for shooting
Shooting is ‘vital for the fabric of the UK rural economy’, the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs Liz Truss MP said at the Conservative Party Conference today.
She was speaking at the rural reception hosted by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Angling Trust at the party conference in Manchester.
She said: “Shooting contributes £2 billion per year to the UK economy and is vital for the fabric of the UK rural economy. People from all walks of life are involved in shooting.
“I will be working closely with the Chancellor to support our £200 billion rural economy to make sure rural areas thrive, and this government will continue to support shooting.”
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation, said:
“I’m more confident than ever that the Conservative Party will support shooting and will continue to do so for many years to come. We must keep making the arguments for shooting to demonstrate its wide-reaching positive impacts on the countryside.”
Alan Jarett, Chairman of BASC, said: “Shooting and conservation are inextricably linked and I am delighted to hear the Secretary of State refer to shooters as ‘custodians of the countryside’.
“Shooting faces many challenges, and we will work together with the Government and Conservative Party to bat away the threats to our sport. BASC will also continue to champion responsible shooting, a central part of our role.
“I welcome the Conservative Party’s support for shooting.”
BASC is sponsoring the Rural Reception at each of the party conferences and was joined by the Angling Trust at the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat conferences.
BASC has taken its state of the art ST-2 shooting simulator to the Conservative conference exhibition where BASC coaches have been introducing conference delegates, journalists and parliamentarians to shooting through the simulator.
Fergus Ewing MSP, Tourism Minister, will speak at BASC’s Rural Reception at the SNP Conference on Friday 16th October (to be confirmed).
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