Thursday, 19 January 2012
Welcome to the grass e-route for 19th January 2012. This week, our campaign for shooting is firing both barrels, we introduce our new Executive Chairman, who will take over from Alice Barnard in February, and applaud the Prime Minister for his comments on Countryfile last Sunday.
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New shooting report rubbishes minimum age call
Former head of UK Field Army appointed to lead Countryside Alliance
Countryfile, Cameron and hunting
Ask your MP to sign up to food EDMs
Save the date - Ascot Countryside Race Day
Point-to-Point meetings this weekend
New shooting report rubbishes minimum age call
This has been an exceptional week for our shooting campaign as we promoted and defended shooting sports on the Today programme and across the regional media via a new report. The issue concerned was our strong riposte to the efforts of Thomas Docherty MP to establish a minimum age at which young people can obtain a Shotgun Certificate. Demonstrating a thorough misunderstanding of the law, the Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife introduced his Private Members' Bill claiming that society was ‘deeply uncomfortable’ with children holding lethal weapons. A Second Reading of this Bill is due in Parliament tomorrow but is not likely to advance further. Of course, as the eyes and ears of shooting the threat alone has been enough to spur us into action. Young people should not be restricted from using shotguns - it is for parents to decide when their children are introduced to shooting and meddling with the current strict rules is unnecessary. Our Shooting Campaign Manager David Taylor appeared on the Today programme yesterday opposite Mr Docherty and made it clear that there is no evidence at all to support Mr Docherty’s claim that 'society as a whole is deeply uncomfortable with the idea of a 7-year-old having unfettered access to a lethal weapon.’ Listen to the exchange here and read the BBC News website's story here. In addition Mark Garnier MP has written an article for the Conservative Home website in support of what he terms the Countryside Alliance's "superb report" and outlines his views on young people and shooting. Read Mr Garnier's piece "Young people should not be denied the opportunity to take part in shooting as a sport". Our report supports our case using evidence collected from Constabularies across England and Wales under the Freedom of Information Act. We discovered that only two young people under the age of 14 have had their certificates removed in the past ten years, a figure which shows that young people with Shotgun Certificates take that responsibility very seriously and that there is no logical basis for the proposed minimum age. Indeed, any young shots I have met have been the model of responsibility, sportsmanship and maturity – we have always said that it is a privilege and a responsibility to hold a Shotgun Certificate whatever your age and that holds true. Mr Docherty has been unable to justify his Bill and we hope a lack of Parliamentary time sees it off, but this whole episode has been an excellent opportunity for us to speak up on behalf of the shooting community. It is our mission to bring young people into shooting sports – especially during Olympic year. We will resist all attempts to deny them access to our sport. Alice Barnard Chief Executive
Whilst we are on the theme of young people and shooting, please remember that our national shooting survey, which has already had thousands of responses, closes shortly. Please make sure you have your say. The Countryside Alliance launched the national survey last summer in order to investigate the number of young people coming into shooting, and how they are being introduced. It is vital that as many people as possible take part - it only takes two minutes. Click here for the survey.
Former head of UK Field Army appointed to lead Countryside Alliance
Former head of the UK Field Army, Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner, has been appointed Executive Chairman of the Countryside Alliance and Director of the Countryside Alliance Foundation with effect from 9th February, taking on overall responsibility for the organisation. Barney will be based in the Alliance’s London Headquarters. Kate Hoey MP, will remain Chairman of the Board of the Countryside Alliance.
Barney (pictured with US President Barack Obama, above) is a writer and countryman with first-hand knowledge of farming and wide countryside interests. He lives in Dorset with his wife and three children, and is a long term supporter of all country sports. As well as being a regular contributor to The Field magazine he was a former editor of Baily’s Hunting Directory and President of the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles. He has had a distinguished military career and was knighted in 2011.He commanded British forces in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq and then took over as the Army Commander in 2009. He left the Army in December 2011. Commenting on his appointment Barney said “I owe so much in my life to the countryside and I am now really looking forward to giving something back". Countryside Alliance Board Chairman Kate Hoey MP said “I am absolutely delighted that Barney is joining us. His leadership will be invaluable in the challenges facing the British countryside.”
Countryfile, Cameron and hunting
Many of you will have seen Prime Minister David Cameron’s interview on BBC1’s Countryfile programme last Sunday, in which he told presented John Craven: "I always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons... My problem has always been that it was just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn't really belong".
Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, responded: “The Prime Minister is totally right to question the Hunting Act, especially from a legal basis. Since it came into force, 97% of convictions under the Act have related to poaching or other casual hunting activities, all of which are covered by existing legislation.
"Hunts across Britain are doing the utmost to abide within what is a very complicated and bureaucratic law, and police forces are wasting time and money policing them when they could be out catching real criminals.
"The rural community, politicians from both sides of the aisle, and various veterinary groups all agree; the Hunting Act has been a total failure and should be repealed.” The Prime Minister’s comments come a couple of weeks after Jim Paice, Agriculture Minister with responsibility for Hunting, said he also wanted to see the Hunting Act repealed.
He said: “The current law simply doesn’t work. I personally am in favour of hunting with dogs – and the Coalition Agreement clearly states that we will have a free vote on whether to repeal the Act when there is time in the Parliamentary calendar to do so.” On Countryfile, presenter John Craven's conversation with the Prime Minister went as follows: John Craven: Are you still committed to a free vote? David Cameron: I am, I mean I put my cards on the table, I have always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons. The House of Commons should make its mind up about this. My problem has always been that it was just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn't really belong, but it will be for the House of Commons to decide and then it will be for the Government to act on that after a House of Commons decision John Craven: And will it happen this Parliament? David Cameron: We've said it will happen in this Parliament, yes. Until Sunday you can watch Mr Cameron's interview (from 9mins in) here on the BBC i-player. The PM's comments on hunting come at 18.18mins http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01b40sv/Countryfile_15_01_2012/
Ask your MP to sign up to food EDMs
January is generally a month where people try to work off the Christmas excesses, so there is every reason to support our farmers and producers and healthy British food. Next week is Farmhouse Breakfast Week . Farmhouse Breakfast Week is an annual campaign run by HGCA which has been running since the year 2000. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and demonstrate the variety of breakfast foods available in the UK, so please make your breakfast British next week. And later on in the year is British Food Fortnight which in 2012 is going to be very special. The website tells us: "2012 will be the most patriotic year in our lifetimes with the Diamond Jubilee and the arrival of the greatest sporting event in the world on our shores. What better way to express our patriotism than through food! Which is why in 2012 we are planning activities throughout the Diamond Jubilee year and we are changing the dates of British Food Fortnight, for one year only, to run at the same time as the Olympics under the banner ‘Love British Food 2012’. The attention of the world will be on us so let's use the opportunity to put not just Britain but British food in the best possible light! Food and sport go hand in hand: sport inspires us to be more active and eat more healthily and food is part and parcel of getting together with family and friends to enjoy great sporting occasions. Dates of Love British Food 2012 are 27th July to 12th August 2012." Find out what you can do at http://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/ Members of Parliament also like to demonstrate their support for our farmers and producers, and there are two current EDMs you can ask them to sign in order to do so. You will be aware that an EDM is a way for MPs to draw attention to an event or cause and that MPs register their support by signing individual motions.
The two of interest are EDM 2507 'COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE REPORT ON MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELLING' and EDM 2409 GAME TO EAT CAMPAIGN. The EDMs promote The Countryside Alliance Foundation's hard work on country of origin food labelling and game meat as a healthy food source. Find your MP here and ask him or her to support our work.
Save the date - Ascot Countryside Race Day
The members of the Ascot Race Day Committee invite you to join them in celebrating this fantastic event on April 1 2011.
Owing to the huge demand we are offering those who have joined us on previous Race Days priority booking. If you would like to join us for lunch in the historic Royal Ascot Pavilion please let us know by Friday 3rd February after which time tickets will go on general sale. For tickets please email news@countryside-alliance.org.
Tickets are £65 per person including Premiere Admission Tickets. The day promises to be as good as ever, kicking off with the Masters' Race for Repeal followed by top class racing, exclusive shopping and lots of countryside entertainment.
Point-to-Point meetings this weekend
SATURDAY 21st JANUARY ROYAL ARTILLERY at LARKHILL (Wiltshire) First race: 11am Admission prices: £20 per car, £10 single occupancy SUNDAY 22nd JANUARY BURTON at NORTH CARLTON (Lincolnshire) LN2 2NA First race: 12noon Admission prices: £5 per car, £5 per person, u16s free HEYTHROP at DUNTHROP (Oxfordshire) First race: 12noon Admission prices: £20 per car, £10 single occupancy TIVERTON FOXHOUNDS at CHIPLEY PARK (Somerset) First race: 12noon Admission prices: £20 per car, £10 single occupancy WEST PERCY at ALNWICK (Northumberland) NE66 3AD First race: 12noon Admission prices: £10 per head (includes racecard)
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