A party conference season like no other

There has been a fair amount of doom and gloom about politics and the future of shooting. However, there is cause for optimism thanks to the efforts of BASC’s political team over the past five years, building relationships and preparing for a potential change in government. 

Post-general election, a litmus test for those efforts was the autumn political party conferences. BASC has been attending these for most of its history and what happened this year was hugely significant. 

First were the Lib Dems in Brighton. Enthused by their best result in recent years, the conference had a joyful atmosphere. They have a record 72 MPs in Parliament, the majority in rural seats. New and existing MPs crowded into the rural reception, co-hosted by BASC and the Angling Trust. 

Many told us they wanted to join the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for shooting and conservation and asked about meeting shooting businesses and clubs in their constituencies. 

Rural voice 

The highlight was Alistair Carmichael MP, newly appointed chair of the environment, farming and rural affairs select committee, telling guests that his party would be a significant rural voice in Westminster following the general election. 

BASC then hotfooted it to Liverpool to meet MPs and Ministers in the Labour Government. Labour now represents 114 rural seats, and this presented a perfect opportunity to explain what BASC members do. For many, such as the Minister for Farming and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, the message has been heard. 

The minister has attended and spoken at four Game Fairs as a guest of BASC and explained to the audience his appreciation for the advice we have given to Labour. 

He urged rural MPs in the room to show that Labour is a good solution in their constituencies and guaranteed that this Government will continue with a commitment to a nature-friendly and environment-friendly countryside. 

During the packed event, many new Labour MPs signed up to the APPG for shooting and conservation, with one agreeing to stand as a new co-chairman. BASC will now be arranging for these and other MPs to visit shoots and conservation projects in their areas. 

The Conservative Party conference in Birmingham followed. After a bruising election, where many friends of shooting lost their seats, we were pleased to see new and old MPs attend a rural reception hosted by Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the APPG for shooting and conservation, for which BASC provides the secretariat. 

Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment Steve Barclay explained that while it’s good to see the value of shooting in economic and conservation terms, the social benefit should not be overlooked. 

The shadow minister promised the Conservative Party will work responsibly in opposition to speak up for BASC, rural sports and the rural way of life and that we will always have them on our side. Sir Geoffrey spoke about the need to continue a true cross-party APPG for shooting and conservation and to work constructively with the new Government. 

Support 

Amid journeys to the Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative conferences, some members of the team also attended the first Reform UK conference. One of Reform’s manifesto commitments is to “protect country sports” and we found MPs to be in total support of our organisation and the shooting sector. 

BASC country teams were also at the Plaid Cymru, Scottish National Party, Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour conferences, with a postponed Welsh Labour conference to come in November. It has been a whirlwind of activity, with endorsements for BASC and shooting from all parts of the political spectrum. 

It’s early days and challenges will arise for shooting, which is when the benefits of our political engagement and evidence-based arguments will really count. You can help: please invite your MP to visit your shoot, club or business so they can see first-hand the positive impact of shooting and conservation. Let me know how you get on.