Labour must not bring in pheasant shooting 'stealth ban' say angry MPs

Published: 08:35 EST, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 09:32 EST, 14 November 2026 Labour have been asked to rule out a 'stealth ban' on pheasant shooting by angry Tory MPs after the Government launched a consultation over bringing in licences for the practice.MPs wrote to Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle over the proposals, asking her to confirm there are not plans to curb game bird shoots.It follows the closure of a call for evidence on the practice two weeks ago, with the government reportedly considering licences both for shoots themselves, and releases of game birds.Writing in his capacity of chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation, North Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown expressed concerns from colleagues that introducing licences would mean a de facto ban.He said the call for evidence 'has caused significant unease among colleagues and the shooting community', going on to cite areas of the country where shoots already need approval in advance.Sir Geoffrey said: 'Especially as, where gamebird release is already licensed in England, Natural England refused to grant nearly all shoots a licence, effectively ending shooting activity and its conservation benefits.'In his letter, which has gained the support of 66 MPs so far, he called on Dame Angela to reassure MPs 'that the Government supports sustainable shooting in line with best practice'.It comes after the Countryside Alliance raised concerns that the move could be 'the first step on the long road to banning game shooting'. MPs wrote to Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle over proposals to bring in shoot licences, asking her to confirm there are not plans to curb game bird shoots Labour have been asked to rule out a 'stealth ban' on pheasant shooting by angry Tory MPsMo Metcalf-Fisher, the organisation's Director of External Affairs, said last month: 'The concern that we have as an industry, as a sector, as a community is it's the first step on the long road to banning game shooting because in order to license something, which is something the government is considering, you first have to ban it. 'That will be absolutely devastating for the countryside. Shooting brings in a whopping £3.3 billion to the UK economy, but beyond that, it pumps vast sums into vital conservation work.'He told People's Channel: 'If the government were to ban game shooting or restrict it, it would impact biodiversity and the rural economy.'Some 36,000 people responded to the call for evidence, with at least 26,000 expressing support for it to continue, industry bodies said.Nick von Westenholz, the chief executive of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, said: 'The Government needs to provide clarity on its policy approach to gamebird management, as continued uncertainty and speculation only risks undermining the positive contribution the game management sector can make to wildlife and the countryside.'At a time when the Government has been shown to be off-track in hitting its statutory targets for nature recovery, it would be madness not to recognise and support the considerable private investment in conservation by game managers.' But a government spokesperson said there are no plans to ban shooting.'The Government has no plans to ban gamebird shooting. High environmental and animal welfare standards must be in place for sustainable shooting to succeed, protecting our ecosystems and biosecurity.'