BASC southern gamekeeping conference held at Great Fulford Estate
The Great Fulford Estate in Devon provided a stunning backdrop for the first BASC gamekeeping conference held in the south west of England.
- - Features
- - Features
A collective effort, a clear outcome: BASC fights for grouse shooting
The Westminster Hall debate on 30 June – prompted by a petition calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting – marked a clear and emphatic rejection of the campaign to end this vital part of our rural and environmental heritage.
MPs from across the political spectrum stood up to make the case for sustainable grouse shooting, highlighting its conservation, economic and social importance to the countryside. Eleven spoke against a ban. In contrast, just a single speaker spoke in favour of the petition, underlining the strength of support for the shooting sector.
A sincere thank you
BASC would like to extend our sincere thanks to the MPs who took the time to attend the debate and speak in support of sustainable grouse shooting. Their contributions were informed, considered and deeply appreciated by those who live and work in the uplands.
We are equally grateful to our members and supporters who played a vital role in the lead-up to the debate. From contacting MPs and sharing our materials, to encouraging others to do the same, your efforts made a real difference. Many MPs highlighted the correspondence they received from constituents – a clear indication that these voices were heard and carried weight.
In the weeks prior to the debate, BASC:
- held two drop-in sessions in Parliament to brief MPs directly
- circulated a comprehensive briefing pack setting out the evidence-based case for driven grouse shooting
- encouraged MPs from all parties to speak in the debate against the ban
- continued our long-standing work inviting parliamentarians to see first-hand the conservation work taking place on grouse moors.
Thanks to this collective effort from our staff, supporters and parliamentarians, BASC was the most name-checked organisation during the debate, with several MPs offering personal thanks for our support. That recognition reflects not only our work in Westminster, but the strength of the community we represent.
Standing up for rural Britain
The debate was not just about grouse shooting; it was about standing up for rural communities, for conservation delivered through private stewardship, and for the jobs, wildlife and traditions rooted in the uplands.
Quotes from across the chamber underscored this point. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP (Conservative, Richmond and Northallerton) spoke passionately about the role of shooting in his constituency, while Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs alike reflected on their experiences visiting grouse moors and engaging with gamekeepers, land managers and schoolchildren.
The debate in quotes
Rishi Sunak MP (Conservative, Richmond and Northallerton): “A ban on grouse shooting would be a policy with no winners. It would be a small section of urban Britain imposing its views on rural Britain and this isn’t right.”
“The failure to appreciate other people’s views and interests won’t bring our country together. So I urge the government to stand firm and reject these ill thought through advocates for a ban and instead, we should all work together to build on this quintessentially British success story.”
Sarah Dyke MP (Liberal Democrat, Glastonbury and Somerton) said it was important to recognise the benefits that well managed, sustainable shooting and moorland management brings.
“It is an important part of the rural economy, providing both direct and indirect employment opportunities.”
She added: “It represents an important cultural pastime and is part of upland heritage and it also supports land and habitat management and benefits biodiversity.”
Sam Rushworth MP (Labour, Bishop Auckland): “I am here as a Labour MP to represent my constituents. My first priority will always be the jobs and livelihoods of the people I represent.
“At a conservative estimate, 500 jobs in the Bishop Auckland constituency – in Teesdale and Weardale – rely on revenues from grouse shooting, including the gamekeepers, those who run gun shops, provide hospitality during shoots, maintain dry stone walls, look after the lodges and train dogs, and the young people for whom being a beater is a great way to earn a seasonal wage. I am here to speak for them.”
Greg Smith MP (Conservative, mid Buckinghamshire): “To ban grouse shooting would be to impoverish our uplands environmentally, economically and socially. This debate is not simply about sport, but about the stewardship of some of the most iconic landscapes in Britain. Grouse shooting is not the problem. It is a key part of the solution. As this debate has shown this afternoon, with voices not just from the official Opposition, but from the Labour party, the Liberal Democrats and the DUP quite clearly setting out the case for grouse shooting on all of those fronts, I think it is pretty clear where we stand.”
Fieldsport News coverage
Looking ahead
While no vote was held, the outcome of the debate was clear: the arguments for a ban lack both substance and support. The government reaffirmed its position that there are no plans to ban driven grouse shooting.
Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner MP said: “It is clear from the petition and the discussion today that Parliament and the wider country care dearly about the issue of driven grouse shooting and managing our uplands in a sustainable way that protects wildlife, the environment and, very importantly, the people who live there.”
He added: “We recognise that shooting can be an important part of a local economy, and as we have heard, it provides direct and indirect employment opportunities. The Government recognises the cultural value that shooting sports can provide to rural communities, in addition to their economic contribution.”
He concluded: “Today’s debate has been extensive, underlined by the wide range of opinions involved. I understand the concerns of the petitioners, Wild Justice and Honourable Members who have spoken in this debate. They are passionate, and rightly so, about our precious native wildlife and the environment. I assure the House that I have listened with great attention to all the points made. To reiterate, although the Government have no plans to ban driven grouse shooting, it is vital that wildlife and habitats are protected, and that the law is respected by everyone.”
BASC will continue to lead from the front; defending sustainable shooting, equipping decision-makers with the facts, and ensuring our members’ voices are heard at the highest levels.
Image by Leopold Amory.
Share
BASC Media team
Election 2024: what do the party manifestoes say about shooting?
BASC’s Conor O’Gorman reviews political party manifestoes and urges everyone to contact their parliamentary candidates before 4 July.
Challenges for shooting in animal welfare shake-up
Read Conor O’Gorman’s blog following the inclusion of plans for new animal welfare legislation in the Queen’s speech in parliament yesterday.
