Rural voices must be heard, BASC tells Liberal Democrats

BASC has underlined the importance of listening to rural communities and recognising the contribution shooting makes to country life during the Liberal Democrat Party Conference.

BASC jointly hosted its Lib Dem rural reception with the Angling Trust, where politicians and delegates heard about the economic and social links shooting creates in rural communities.

Addressing the event, Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland and chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee, spoke about the importance of engaging with those directly affected by policy changes. Carmichael has chaired the EFRA committee since 2024.

Speaking on the implementation of government policy, he said: “This matters in rural communities more than anywhere else. Government policy that comes from the top down and ‘happens’ to people in their community always brings bad outcomes.”

Mr Carmichael highlighted the large number of personal submissions the EFRA Committee received while working on wildfires and farming in upland communities. He said many had come directly from people living and working in rural areas, including gamekeepers, farmers, shepherds, land managers and rural businesses.

He also spoke about the need for meaningful engagement during government consultations, saying conversations should be based on respect rather than reaching a conclusion before consultations have taken place.

Jak Abrahams, BASC director of public affairs, said: “BASC spoke of how important shooting is to the warp and weft of country life.

“If you go into the countryside and get to its roots, you will find people who go beating, picking up and shooting, who process game meat, run the shops that service people who go shooting and staff the pubs and B&Bs where people stay. All of these jobs and economic links bring together rural communities.”