LABOUR’S shadow Secretary of State for the Environment spoke of the importance of high standards in shooting at a rural reception hosted by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Angling Trust at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.
Sue Hayman, MP for Workington in Cumbria, told guests at the reception that she wants to work with both organisations on policy and to promote good practice.
“I understand the importance of the work done by both BASC and the Angling Trust,” she said.
“I am keen to work closely with both organisations to develop policy. There is an awful lot of work to do, but there are great opportunities.
“We want to see standards improving and more work on sustainability, we want to promote good practice and clamp down on issues such as the illegal shooting of raptor birds.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with BASC and the Angling Trust.”
Christopher Graffius, BASC’s acting chief executive, said: “Shooting must be sustainable to survive, we have known that for years. BASC and shooters are squarely focused on sustainable shooting.
“Conservation and sustainability are key to what we do. Shooting is involved in the management of almost two-thirds of the UK’s rural land area while shooters spend 3.9 million work days on conservation each year.
“BASC is committed to high standards and we look forward to working with Labour to ensure those standards are maintained.
“We are also committed to working with this Labour party, just as we worked with the last Labour government. Indeed, our first ever rural reception was held at the Labour conference way back in 2003 and long may we continue to build on that relationship.”
BASC chairman Peter Glenser said: “Sustainability and conservation are central to who we are and what we do. I very much look forward to working with Labour going forward, who have helped us in government and in opposition for many years.”
BASC and the Angling Trust held a rural reception at the Liberal Democrat autumn conference in Bournemouth last week and will jointly host an event at the Conservative conference in Manchester.
ENDS