Shadow Minister tries his hand at clay pigeon shooting

Gavin Shuker, who is Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and MP for Luton South, was given an introductory clay shooting lesson by a BASC-accredited shotgun coach at the Holland and Holland shooting ground in Middlesex.

Head coach Chris Bird took the lesson. Mr Shuker was given a full safety briefing then tried his hand at a number of different targets.

Gavin Shuker said: “It’s vital that the people who make laws understand the activities they legislate on. BASC do much for conservation in the UK and are fully engaged in Labour’s policy review. I was delighted to take up the offer of a lesson – it certainly helped with my hit rate!”

Samantha Edwards, BASC’s political affairs officer, said: “He did brilliantly and hit most of the clays. He said he thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Mr Shuker’s lesson was part of an ongoing programme run by BASC to give as many politicians as possible hands-on experience of shooting.

Say what you think in the Shooting UK forums!