I was keen to speak in the debate on grouse shooting because this issue is incredibly important to Thirsk and Malton — the place I’ve lived all my life.
Beyond the sport itself, there are serious concerns about wildfire risk in our area, which has become a tinderbox due to dry weather. I believe some of the policies pursued by Natural England may be making that worse.
I also felt the need to challenge the petition that claims grouse shooting is bad for people, wildlife, the environment and the economy. In my view, that’s simply not true for our constituency. The suggestion that grouse shooting is “economically insignificant” doesn't reflect reality on the ground.
This debate matters because it’s about real livelihoods, real land, and rural communities like ours.
