Minister’s countryside comments miss the mark

At our reception during the Labour conference in Liverpool this week, rural minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter described a Britain of warm ale, black Labradors and country pubs as a “far-right nostalgic vision” that “never really existed”.

Her comments have since been widely reported in the national press and across social media.

These words were poorly judged and the picture of the countryside they painted is one that BASC completely rejects.

Our members know better than anyone the reality of our countryside – a place where people live, work and contribute. Shooting supports thousands of jobs, brings trade to rural pubs and businesses through the winter, and funds conservation on a huge scale. Working dogs – including plenty of Labradors – are part of that life. None of it belongs to any one political party.

BASC spoke with the minister ahead of her speech – and discussed exactly this. The minister’s office has today directed us to an Instagram post saying she does not actually consider country pubs or black Labradors “far right”.

BASC has a proud history of working with governments of all colours. Despite our disagreement over the minister’s original comments, we have a responsibility to keep engaging. We have invited her to spend a day with us in the field to see rural life as it really is.