Countryside Alliance correct false grouse claims made in Parliament

A Labour MP and former Shadow DEFRA Secretary has been criticised for falsely claiming grouse are imported to the UK 'in their millions'.

Kerry McCarthy, the MP for Bristol East, said publicly during a meeting of the Agriculture Bill committee last Tuesday, that 'grouse are imported into this country in their millions just so they can be shot by people on an away day'.

The shocking comments were quickly challenged by the Countryside Alliance.

Adrian Blackmore, Director of Shooting at the Countryside Alliance said " It's incredibly concerning that we have Labour MPs with important rural briefs making such basic mistakes.

It is a well-known fact that grouse are a wild bird and native to the UK. They are not imported, and the income from grouse shooting helps pay for the management of our uplands, benefiting not just the environment, but many of our remote rural communities for whom it really can be the main economic driver and game birds such as grouse are shot for consumption. Errors like this are doing little to bolster Labour's credibility among rural people.

We invite Kerry to talk to us about the tremendous conservation work being carried out by keepers on grouse moors".