As grouse moor reform bill is due to be published REVIVE goes down a storm amongst the party membership
The recent two weekends (October 8th-10th and October 15th) at the SNP and Greens conferences (respectively) saw a step up in REVIVE's campaign for real reform of Scotland's grouse moors.
SNP Conference
At SNP conference REVIVE's 'Play your cards right' stall attracted many delegates, MSPs and MPs to engage with some shocking stats about grouse moors. More significantly, our flagship fringe meeting attracted around 200 party delegates.
The Minister's presence was a first for REVIVE at SNP conference which was important as she is the Minister responsible for grouse moor reform. Moreover, she witnessed spontaneous clapping from the SNP membership for one of REVIVE's key calls - that no animals should be killed, just so more grouse can be shot for sport.
Director of League Against Cruel Sports Scotland Robbie Marsland chaired proceedings while Campaign Manager for REVIVE Max Wiszniewski gave the first speech. He spoke of the history of grouse moors and about how now was the time to change the face of Scotland for the better, outlining REVIVE's main policy demands of the Government.
Mhairi Stewart, Policy Strategy lead from our friend, John Muir Trust, followed with the intriguing notion of taxing large estates for carbon emissions and for not fulfilling their responsibilities as land owners - a carbon land tax.
Director of think-tank Common Weal, Amanda Burgauer, outlined how ambitious land reform and grouse moor reform could lead to thousands more jobs for rural Scotland.
The Minister discussed that the grouse moor reform bill is due in the Programme for Government and thanked REVIVE for our work and engagement. She shared in our ambition to end rural depopulation by enabling re-population and encouraged attendees to fill in the land reform consultation. A guide for doing so from our partners Common Weal can be found HERE and the deadline is October 30th.
Green Conference
Like with the SNP, REVIVE has a great - and very appreciated - support base amongst members of the Scottish Greens. Robbie Marsland chaired again as REVIVE's Campaign Manger, Rosie Simpson (Senior Policy Officer at John Muir Trust) and Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater joined the panel.
REVIVE's Max Wiszniewski addressed REVIVE's campaign positions and asked the audience to put their hands up if they agreed or disagreed with them. Everyone in the audience agreed with our policies - that animals shouldn't be killed, mass chemical medication of grouse should end and muirburn should stop when the purpose is increasing grouse numbers for sport shooting - but it was even more welcoming to see the Minister doing the same with a hand enthusiastically extended.
Rosie Simpson got a good reception amongst the membership for John Muir Trust's plans for a carbon land tax which is something that the Government is looking at and something that can clearly aid land reform efforts in Scotland.
Like Minister Màiri McAllan, Minister Slater thanked REVIVE for our contribution and invitation to speak. Moreover, she was keen for us to continue to push our specific and clear legislative asks which help to offer clarity to the grouse moor reform debate. REVIVE has more plans to do just that, very soon.
Thanks to everyone involved, from conference staff to our very own speakers. We appear to have shown strength at a key moment in time!
More photos from SNP conference
