Senedd elections – what do the party manifestos say about shooting?

BASC’s Dr Conor O’Gorman reviews the Welsh political party manifestos ahead of the Senedd elections on 7 May and urges people to contact their candidates.

With political campaigning in full swing across Wales and all major parties having released their manifestos, it’s a good moment to examine what they say about shooting and conservation.

Plaid Cymru

There is no mention of shooting in Plaid Cymru’s manifesto.

The party commits to halting biodiversity loss and achieving substantive recovery by 2050 and that is exactly what the shooting community in Wales is doing.

There are specific promises for the creation and maintenance of woodlands and hedgerows and again that is where game shooting is already delivering.

Reform UK

Reform UK’s Wales manifesto makes a commitment not to ban the release of game birds or create a licensing regime; and to review the ‘excessively restrictive’ general licences for the control of pest birds.

This is a very welcome reassurance for our sector that BASC has commented on.

Welsh Labour

It is no surprise that Welsh Labour’s manifesto commits to “increase restrictions on the shooting of gamebirds” given its recent pre-manifesto announcement to seek further regulations and licensing via another call for evidence on gamebird releasing in Wales.

Welsh Labour promises to “protect 30% of our lands and seas for nature by 2030 and set new, robust and legally binding targets for restoring nature”.

In that context it is perhaps ironic that Welsh Labour’s ideological aim to ban game shooting would remove a sustainable use of land and natural resources that is delivering most for nature recovery in Wales.

Welsh Greens

The Welsh Greens manifesto makes no reference to shooting.

On conservation they explain that ecosystems must be restored, and land must support multiple goals: food production, nature recovery, climate resilience and community wellbeing.

The 2024 BASC Natural Capital report in Wales established that shooting and its associated habitat creation and management provided £26.8 million of benefit through carbon sequestration, £1.2 million in public health benefits, £15.1 million in recreational value for those involved in shooting and the wider public, and £4.2 million in food, farming and forestry value for the country.

Welsh Conservatives

The Welsh Conservatives manifesto has no mention of shooting.

They promise a £20 million Wildlife Wales Fund to support conservation efforts. Perhaps that could be directed towards shoots given that shooting in Wales contributes to an annual spend of £7.4m on conservation and is involved in the management of 380,000 hectares, which makes up 19 per cent of its total landmass.

Welsh Liberal Democrats

The Welsh Liberal Democrats manifesto does not mention shooting.

They commit to investing an extra £50 million a year to support profitable,

sustainable and nature-friendly farming in Wales. Farming and shooting work hand in glove in Wales.

They also promise to provide adequate financial support for woodland planting, habitat creation and SSSIs based on realistic cost assessments and use of low-cost, close-to-nature approaches, and seek to reduce regulation to facilitate natural approaches.

BASC’s manifesto for sustainable shooting in Wales

BASC recently published its vision for the future of sustainable shooting and practical conservation in Wales. You could use some of the key proposals if you are contacting your candidates for the Senedd elections.

Click here for BASC’s manifesto for sustainable shooting in Wales

How to contact your candidates for the Senedd elections

The extent to which party manifesto commitments will influence the next Welsh government’s policies on shooting and conservation remains to be seen, but perhaps the various promises (and threats) therein may help you decide who to vote for.

BASC has launched website to help you easily contact your candidates for the Senedd elections and ask their views on shooting.

Click here to contact your candidates

A few minutes to make the difference

I know we are all busy, but maybe you could spare a few minutes putting candidates on the spot at this crucial moment for the future of shooting in Wales.

Every bit of information will help give BASC a head start after 7 May as we start engaging with the newly elected Senedd members. Thank you for your support and time.

Image credit: Senedd Cymru

Conor OGorman

Conor O’Gorman has worked in a variety of conservation, policy and campaigning roles at BASC over the last 20 years. A zoology graduate with a PhD awarded for grey partridge research, he has over 25 years’ experience in conservation and land management.