As we were finalising this issue, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a General Election, scheduled for 4 July, a crucial moment for our industry. The decision to hold an election comes at a time when the stakes are particularly high for those involved in shooting and rural affairs.
Below you can read the initial viewpoints from The Gun Trade Association, British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Countryside Alliance.
Simon West OBE, executive director, The Gun Trade Association commented: “The timing of this announcement is hugely frustrating. Years of work on licensing, fees, moderators and lead is vulnerable to being re-examined and delayed. Businesses need certainty. Any new government needs to wrap up these topics quickly and refrain from ideological indulgence.“
A spokesperson from BASC commented: “This is undoubtedly an important election for shooting and conservation. Shooting plays a key role in the economy and the conservation and management of the countryside, and any incoming government will have to be alert to the needs of rural areas.
“BASC is an all-party political organisation and we will continue to work with all parties to promote and protect the way of life we all hold dear.
“In the coming days we will be launching an online election platform on our website that will allow all those involved in shooting to lobby their candidates.
“We will post the results of the replies we receive so members and visitors to our website can find out exactly where each candidate stands on shooting and conservation.
“The importance of winning rural seats to any political party seeking office means that each and every one of us has an important role to play, and we call on everyone involved in shooting and conservation to engage with their candidates.”
Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance commented: “There are dozens of marginal seats up for grabs across rural Britain which were turned almost entirely blue by the Conservatives in 2019. As we have been telling the Labour Party for five years, its path to No 10 has to go through the countryside. The party that can convince the rural electorate that it shares their values, and most importantly their priorities, will go a long way to winning what looks like being an epoch defining election.
“The election in the countryside looks likely to be won and lost on the issue of priorities. At the last election the Labour Party campaigned in the countryside on an agenda that was largely about restrictions on the rural way of life. Unsurprisingly, that strategy failed spectacularly and even the Shadow Defra Secretary was defeated in a previously safe rural seat. Meanwhile, the Conservatives asked us to trust them on rural issues and then, in government, pursued an agenda which included legislation as damaging and irrelevant as the Animal Sentience Act and the Trophy Hunting Bill, whilst signing trade deals that undercut animal welfare and farmers.
“Since the current prime minister took charge, the government has realigned its rural agenda with the priorities of rural people, but trust is hard to regain”
We invite you to share your perspectives on how the general election results might impact your business. Please send your thoughts and comments to us at editorial@fieldsportspress.com.