The Scottish National Party held its spring conference in Edinburgh over the weekend.
Revive, the coalition for grouse moor reform, took the opportunity to have a stand in the exhibitors’ hall on both days which attracted a large number of MSPs and delegates who signed up to support the campaign.
[Revive coalition members Ruth Tingay (RPUK), Max Wiszniewski (Revive Campaign Manager & mastermind of Revive’s involvement at conference) and Robbie Marsland (League Against Cruel Sports Scotland)]
Revive also hosted a Fringe event at the conference on Saturday afternoon, which took the form of a panel discussion hosted and chaired by Ruth Maguire MSP:
The number of delegates wanting to attend this event was overwhelming. The audience was above capacity and the doors had to be closed to stop others coming in.
And what an audience it was! Some were already very well informed about the need for grouse moor reform, and others were clearly new to the debate but their eyes were soon opened.
The audience heard from Max, who introduced the background to Revive’s campaign and showed Revive’s video outlining the case for grouse moor reform.
Then there was a presentation from RPUK on the illegal killing of golden eagles (and other raptors) on many Scottish grouse moors and how the criminals have been able to get away with it for so long.
Next up was Robin McAlpine from Common Weal who brilliantly asked the audience to play at Dragon’s Den and pretend they were listening to a pitch to set up driven grouse shooting as an ethical, environmentally-friendly and sustainable business proposition. Their laughter would have been heard in the main conference hall.
Questions and answers followed, ably chaired by Ruth Maguire MSP and by the end of this hour-long event the mood in the room was palpable. This was an audience agitating for change.
Let’s hope the message reaches the Government as we prepare to find out the recommendations of Prof Werritty’s grouse moor management review in the coming months.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Congratulations, I look forward to Scotland leading the way and proving that DGS should end across the UK!
So just usual left wing politics based on lies and misinformation from the same left wing groups.
And just the usual bullshit from you, O Really. You’re fooling nobody.
A productive point of debate would be appreciated…you are speechless clearly and losing your argument…times are changing…and that has f all to do with left and right….
It’s all very well saying “just usual left wing politics based on lies and misinformation from the same left wing groups” – but the readers of this blog generally like to rely upon sensible peer reviewed evidence rather than knee-jerk rhetoric. So what is your evidence for “lies and misinformation”?
I can live with being characterised as left wing though. Or maybe you have a problem with a diversity of views?
Come on then O Reilly lets hear your ‘truthful’ arguments. Don’t be shy.
Smell the fear.
And there is no chance on you using this platform to elucidate on why you say such. Use debate and argument instead of just displaying your prejudices.
Rather an unspecific comment Mike O’Reilly. What are the lies? What is the misinformation? Easy slurs without substance.
Is it possible to let us know the names of the MSPs who signed up to support the Revice campaign? We could then ask some pertinent questions if our MSP didn’t sign up. It might produce a few more signatures.
Hi Andy,
Good point.
Pls contact Max at Revive for details. Cheers
Was there any discussion or mention of SNH playing catch up with NE on the question of General Licences?
Hi Dave,
Not during the Fringe event, no.
But during the rest of the conference, yes, lots of interest & lots of discussion. I can’t go in to that here just now but soon enough, hopefully.
This is fantastic! Looking at the numbers in that hall and knowing that people had to be turned away it feels inappropriate to describe it as a ‘Fringe Event’, this was a major event clearly. The old order are losing their grip, if this was anything like the Revive launch last November I doubt anyone who attended will ever listen to the guff coming from the DGS without treating it with contempt now. Imagine if Fergus Ewing had been on the panel and what a roasting he would have got? Very well done indeed to all involved…the Scottish Conservatives next😉
Wonderful news, sounds like an excellent event. Well done.
I don’t suppose Harry attended or Fergus.