The MPs (and peers) above added their support to a letter in support of the British Game Alliance. You can read the letter here. I haven’t checked the peers but all the MPs are Tories (plus Jim Shannon DUP).
I don’t have any problem with their doing this, nor really with the content of the letter, but if my MP were in this list (which he isn’t) I would be writing to him along these lines:
Dear
I see that you have added your name to a letter in support of the British Game Alliance which celebrates the role of self regulation in helping shooting to adhere to the highest standards.
Given the recent news that Waitrose has said that its game meat will only be sourced from shoots that use non-toxic ammunition then will you please use your influence in all ways possible to encourage the switch from lead ammunition to non-toxic types? In particular, I would be grateful if you could write to the British Game Alliance since you are ‘a lifelong shooting enthusiast’ and ask the BGA to ensure that they adopt the same standards as Waitrose.
I trust that you are aware that the European Food Safety Authority advises that lead exposure from all sources should be reduced, the Food Standards Agency advises that consumers should reduce game consumption to minimise the risks and that NHS England lists game shot with lead as a food that should be avoided by pregnant women? Do you agree that ‘ the highest standards’ must include not shooting a poison into food that is to be consumed by people?
Can you please tell me whether you have switched wholly to non-toxic ammunition in your own shooting, please?
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There is something disgusting about this and not a little sinister, arrogant and ignorant.
Would it not have been better to ask for changes in shooting such as protecting people from poisons, protecting our wildlife from criminals and generally acting with a little decorum as befits their office?
In not doing so, they have shown there complete disrespect for the people they are paid to represent, and complete disregard for the laws of the land.
They have also shown just how much contempt they have for the vast majority of people who would hate the thought of killing
animals for fun.
They are in a position of power and boy, don’t they like us to know it.
Self regulation, highest standards, benefits? My arse.
I don’t have a problem with the content or the list of people. This could be seen as a call for improvement in standards.
I do have a problem with how it is presented. This is an advert in support of the BGA and all those signing it are doing so as individuals and not official correspondence. Why is this on parliamentary headed paper?
Just looks like a list of the usual suspects to me.