A new international internet birding magazine, World Birding TV, has just launched. Guess what? Episode 1 includes coverage of our campaign to ban driven grouse shooting and we get the chance to see and hear Amanda Anderson looking unconvinced and sounding unconvincing. Henry is filmed at the Bird Fair and a gamekeeper finds evidence of…
Category: CAMPAIGNING: petitions, marches, writing to your MP, HHDay
What you thought of the standard SNP response – Firm Briefing 10
Here are just four quotes from what you thought about the standard response to your letters about driven grouse shooting from your SNP MPs in the Westminster parliament: ‘I too thought it a total cop out response.’ ‘…all bullsh*t I’m afraid‘ ‘…there is the stain of almost incessant illegal persecution, not something that plays…
The SNP standard response – Firm Briefing 9
Before tackling the tricky issue of SNP MPs in the Westminster parliament, let me just say that support for our e-petition has been very strong in Scotland: it has received c12,000 signatures from Scotland out of a UK total so far of 118,000 – that’s c10% of all signature compared with Scotland representing c8.4% of…
A few goals for 20 September
Our rather successful e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting runs until midnight (I think) on 20 September. Every signature is valuable in showing MPs and the world that this is an issue that requires urgent attention. I’d be very pleased if the total approached 125,000 at the end – there will be another significant milestone…
Firm Briefing 8 – some tips and requests
‘Firm Briefing’ is what we are giving our MPs in the run-up to the expected debate on the future of driven grouse shooting in the Westminster parliament at a date to be determined (but likely to be October or November). Our aim is to get a good and truthful debate on the future of driven…
118,000 signatures, three weeks to go and Firm Briefing 7
Our e-petition is still moving briskly along – this will partly be thanks to the impact of last week’s Bird Fair. Some will have heard about the e-petition for the first time at the Bird Fair (that may be difficult for some of you to believe but it’s certainly true) and also 11,000 leaflets were…
Tory ex-minister blusters – Firm Briefing 6
I’ve had quite a lot to do with MPs over the years and I don’t share the same low opinion of them that I often hear voiced by others. It’s a difficult job and most of them do it reasonably well. But, on the other hand, I’m certainly not in awe of MPs and whilst…
The standard Labour Party response – Firm Briefing 5
This appears to be the letter which the Labour Party is using to reply to your emails about a debate on driven grouse shooting. The red words have appeared in one MP’s response whereas rather more of them miss out that bit! However, for those of us who signed the e-petition to ban driven grouse…
Writing back to your Conservative MP – Firm Briefing 4
Thank you to everyone who has written to their MPs in the last week – there are well over 275 of you so far and you have contacted almost 200 MPs. Fantastic effort. Thank you! If you want to join the gang – here’s how. To make the most of your contact with your MP…
Bit rude Ms Coffey
Dear minister I sent you a copy of my book, Inglorious – conflict in the uplands, over a month ago and haven’t yet received an acknowledgement. That’s very rude of you and Defra isn’t it? By the way, your predecessor was equally rude. Since I sent you that book, which has had rave reviews, and…