Reform pledges support for shooting at BASC rural reception

Fishing, shooting and hunting are the “bedrock” of rural Britain, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice MP told a joint BASC and Angling Trust reception over the weekend, pledging his party’s continued backing for field sports.

“Fishing, shooting and hunting are the bedrock, the absolute foundation, of the rural community,” Tice said. “Without these field sports, our great countryside wouldn’t look and feel as it does. It’s the custodians’ influence and investment from the countryside field sports community that is so essential in looking after the rivers, lakes, hedgerows, headlands and woodlands. We will continue to be massively supportive.”

The reception was held on 5 September, as BASC kicked off its programme of political party conference engagement, part of its ongoing work to maintain strong cross-party support for shooting and conservation. BASC attended the Reform UK conference at the NEC in Birmingham on 4 and 5 September, where it co-hosted the event with the Angling Trust.

BASC director of public affairs Jak Abrahams welcomed the pledge and underlined shooting’s economic and environmental value. “Shooting is vital to the rural economy,” he said. “It provides thousands of jobs during the winter months and delivers conservation work for many vulnerable and protected species. BASC is an all-party organisation. We welcome Reform UK’s support and will continue working across the political spectrum to secure a strong future for shooting and conservation.”

Mark Owen, head of fisheries at the Angling Trust, also addressed the reception, highlighting the scale of angling in the UK and its contribution to rural and coastal communities.

As an all-party organisation, BASC engages with politicians from across the spectrum to ensure the shooting community’s voice is heard. BASC and the Angling Trust will host joint rural receptions at all three remaining major party conferences this autumn:

• Liberal Democrats: 19–22 September
• Labour: 27–30 September
• Conservatives: 4–7 October

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