MP Danny Kruger slams ‘senseless’ attack on rural communities as shooting banned across Salisbury Plain
Danny Kruger, MP for East Wiltshire, has called on the Government to take back control over shooting licenses after a ‘senseless’ decision to ban shooting on Salisbury Plain.
In previous years, the licensing authority for game bird releases has been Defra, but this process is now managed by Natural England. Across the country, licenses are not being granted, and in Salisbury Plain all shoots are likely to be denied a license for the 2025 season. This has huge implications for the local economy and community, and for the environment.
Last week Mr Kruger, the MP for East Wiltshire, which covers the largest area of Salisbury Plain, met local shoot directors and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) to discuss their fears. All agreed Defra need to step in and take back control of the licensing process.
Danny Kruger, MP for East Wiltshire, said: "Labour's attack on rural communities continues with a senseless ban on shooting on Salisbury Plain this summer.
“The Government has handed over the power to issue release licenses to Natural England - the quango captured by the anti-shooting lobby - and NE have decided pheasants could infect rare birds like the stone curlew with avian flu. There is no evidence of this happening - but conclusive evidence that rare birds are protected by the gamekeepers who keep down the predators that eat ground-nesting birds.
“If this ban goes ahead, shoots will go bust, gamekeepers will be laid off and the stone curlews on Salisbury Plan will be driven extinct. If Defra really cared about rare birds it would take back control from Natural England and allow the military shoots - charitable projects supporting our Army families and the local community - to carry on their vital work of looking after this precious habitat."
A spokesperson for The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) said: “BASC is very pleased that Danny Kruger MP took the time to talk to us and local shoot directors about the problems being created as a result of the approach being taken by Natural England. We believe this approach is fundamentally unjust and poses a significant risk to the future of many shoots.
“It also risks halting vital conservation work carried out by the shooting community on the Salisbury Plain, putting at even greater risk the very species Natural England says it aims to protect.”
