The Liberal Democrats have confirmed support for responsible shooting at the rural reception hosted by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Angling Trust at the party’s conference in Bournemouth today.
Baroness Parminter, Deputy Leader in the Lords & Spokesperson for Environment and Rural Affairs, said:
“We as a party support all those involved in responsible shooting, and I personally endorse this position. I recognise the contribution shooting makes to our beautiful countryside and the rural economy. We in parliament will continue to work with stakeholders who are involved in the management of our countryside.”
BASC chairman Alan Jarrett said:
“Shooting has a major impact on the environmental and economic health of the countryside. Shooting contributes 74,000 jobs and £2 billion to the UK economy each year. These economic benefits are matched by shooting’s invaluable contribution to the sustainable management of the countryside, as well as British shooting producing some of the finest game for the table in the world.”
The association is sponsoring the Rural Reception at each of the four major party conferences and will also be joined by the Angling Trust at the Conservative and Labour conferences.
In addition to a spokesman from the Angling Trust and Alan Jarrett, the speakers at each party conference are as follows:
Labour – Monday 28th September – to be confirmed – Lord Knight, Labour spokesperson on Environment Food and rural affairs and Angela Smith MP, former spokesperson for Environment and Rural Affairs.
Conservatives – Monday 5th October – Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Shooting and Conservation
SNP – Friday 16th October, Fergus Ewing MSP, Tourism Minister (to be confirmed)
ENDS