Those with a passion for rural affairs need to make sure the rural community is not “left behind”, a Conservative MP told a reception at the party’s annual conference this week.
Speaking to hundreds of guests at a rural reception hosted by BASC and the Angling Trust at the Conservative conference in Manchester, Nus Ghani MP said it was “extremely important” that people continued to campaign for rural affairs.
She said: “Urbanites tend to get ahead by making a lot of noise and those with a passion for rural affairs need to make sure the rural community is not left behind.”
Her sentiments were echoed by BASC vice-chair Claire Sadler, who said: “There are clear, well-documented benefits to the economy and environment from shooting and angling.
“We are being challenged like never before and it is important that the organisations, their members and those with a love of country sports and a passion for our way of life make their voices heard.”
Martin Salter, head of policy at the Angling Trust, told guests: “The economic numbers in favour of angling and shooting are big numbers.
“It is important the Angling Trust and BASC continue to put across the credible importance of angling and shooting. It’s an argument we all need to make very forcibly to politicians.”