Message from the NGO about Shooting in Wales

[wytonpjs]

Just recieved this in my inbox and thought I'd share to give maximum visibility. IMHO, this is the "thin end of the wedge" and as a like-minded community, we all need to stand up and be recognised.

Important Political Update​

Dear NGO Member, The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation recently wrote to the Welsh Government as part of the Aim to Sustain Partnership in Wales. The letter was a joint communication from all of the partners introducing the group to the Welsh Labour Government. The NGO were shocked by the reply of the minister and vow to continue to fight for shooting in Wales. The letter received by Aim to Sustain Wales from Julie James, Minister for Climate Change in Wales, emphasised that: ‘The Welsh Government does not support the shooting of live quarry as a leisure activity’. (A full copy of the letter is shown below). David Pooler, Interim Chairman of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and a gamekeeper based in North Wales, said: “These businesses are people’s livelihoods. How can the Welsh Government come out and state it’s lack of support for a legal activity that is the backbone of the economy in many areas of rural Wales? “We would like to know what the detail of this lack of support looks like. Seeing it written down in black and white clearly shows a lack of understanding of rural Wales and how much of its unique biodiversity relies on areas that are managed for shooting. “We want to create a positive future for shooting in Wales, where gamekeepers continue to work on projects that help limit the impacts of climate change and manage land in ways that result in a net gain for biodiversity”. “In the meantime, the NGO will continue to work with its partners and members in the shooting sector to work with the Welsh Government and not against them to bring about both economic and environmental success.” It is important that pressure not only comes for your organisations but from individuals too, every email or letter carries weight in both parliament and the senedd. You Can Help too:- In Wales We would urge all of our members in Wales to write to your MS and ask them if the personally support this? Ask them if they would vote to end your livelihood, put you out of a home and destroy large parts of the Welsh rural economy. Please also ask them if they understand the good that shooting does for iconic species such as the curlew and black grouse in Wales. The NGO Educational Trust sent a copy of the book Moorland Matters by Ian Coghill to every MS earlier this year, it would be good to ask your MS if they have read the book. You can find your MS https://senedd.wales/find-a-member-of-the-senedd/ In the Rest of the UK We also urge all of our members to write to Mark Drakford the First Minister of Wales and leader of the Welsh Labour Party Mark.Drakeford@senedd.wales and ask him why he doesn’t support jobs in rural Wales for those who work as gamekeepers, game dealers and other associated business. If you live outside of Wales but shoot in Wales please let him know how much you spend on hotels, on local services and that this is often outside of the traditional tourist season thereby helping the rural Welsh community. All of us We should all also write to Keir Starmer, who said “No party can claim to represent the country, if it doesn’t represent the countryside.” – February 2021 – ask him if he supports the stance of the Welsh Labour Government, explain that you are a rural person and how the loss of shooting will affect you personally. keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk Each Letter must be individual to you but if you need any help at all please contact Tim Weston or John Clarke via 01833 660869 or info@nationalgamekeepers.org.uk We would be delighted to be forwarded any response that you have from your MS, the leader of the Prime minister of Wales or the Leader of the UK Labour Party. David Pooler

 

[Kalahari]

Done that. Just another example (after the Covid chaos) of why devolution was and is a disaster.

David.

 

[andyk]

Nowt ‘thin end’ about it, that’s as clear a statement of intent as you’ll ever get. Bluntly, that is “f@&£ off not interested” in politician speech.

I actually wonder whether the Welsh Labour may be more anti than the SNP. At least some of their MSPs seem to get the jobs point.

They’ll no doubt just say the keepers etc can get jobs servicing wind turbines or similar.

Labour (and other centre left parties) might find the countryside a more fertile place for votes if they could bring themselves to accept that things are done there which are not understood in cities but that doesn’t mean they have to attack them. As it is, rural voters are pretty much forced to vote Tory (however much of an imbecile their leader may be) as the other parties show nothing but contempt for them.

 

[Jon P]

Unfortunately in Wales you could pin a red ribbon on a donkey and they would still vote for it.

 

[saddler]

Unfortunately in Wales you could pin a red ribbon on a donkey and they would still vote for it.

THAT used to be the case in the North East too - for some reason that was not the case at the last elections
Durham council is no longer LieBore run for the first time in about a century...ditto for a lot of new MP's, LieBore got the elbow = long overdue!

 

[andrew_shooter53]

sent mine,




Wed, 1 Dec at 10:27


Julie James, Minister for Climate Change in Wales, emphasised that: ‘The Welsh Government does not support the shooting of live quarry as a leisure activity.
About time now that the Welsh Government took notice of how much good shooters do to Rural areas, we are great conservationists we set aside areas for endangered species like the curlew, lapwings, black grouse etc , do you realize how much money is added to the Economy through shooting, clearly Julie James does not, where Welsh shooters and National Gamekeepers’ Organisation are putting money into the Welsh economy it seems Julie James likes to ski and take it out of the welsh economy to either France, Austria, or Switzerland, Shame on you Julie James, why dont you stick to picking up plastic bottles on Welsh beaches and let the shooting industry build up the Welsh economy, Mr Drakeford i hope you can see what good shooting does to conservation and what it adds to the welsh economy, regards andrew

 

[User00040]

Heard they are changing the Welsh flag soon:

 

[jer]

If all those who enjoy country pursuits in Wales were to vote something other than Labour it might wake up that bunch of clowns in Cardiff, unfortunately too many here vote without looking at what the parties stand for when it comes to our sport.

 

[gixer1]

Sounds like they are the same as the SNaziP up here…

 

[jimmy milnes]

Unfortunately in Wales you could pin a red ribbon on a donkey and they would still vote for it.

Same up here in Yorkshire in the main Jon, up here it's a mining thing going back decades an I'm guessing Wales is for the same reason.
Jimmy

 

[Jon P]

Emails sent to MD & KS.

 

[User00044]

Done