MPs oppose plans to change shotgun licensing rules
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Political representatives quizzed ahead of Scottish elections
An online members hustings event hosted by BASC Scotland brought together representatives from the country’s six main political parties ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.
They were asked questions submitted by BASC members on key themes including venison and deer management, species conservation, rural jobs, and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Taking part were Ariane Burgess (Scottish Green Party), Alistair Carmichael MP (Scottish Liberal Democrat Party), Tim Eagle (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party), Jim Fairlie (Scottish National Party), and Kenneth Morton (Reform UK Scotland).
Looking to the future
The event was chaired by BASC Scotland director Peter Clark and reflected the priorities set out in our manifesto for sustainable shooting. The manifesto outlines a vision for the future of sustainable shooting and conservation in Scotland and was officially launched at BASC’s annual Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management Day, held at Scone Palace last month.
Mr Clark said: “The hustings provided a valuable opportunity for members to hear directly from candidates and understand where each party stood on the issues affecting shooting and the wider countryside. We are grateful to all those who took part.”
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