The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation offer Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer Honorary Membership of the organisation

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The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) have written to the Labour Leader, Sir Keir Starmer, offering him Honorary Membership of the organisation.

It has been widely reported in the past week that Sir Keir’s great-grandfather, Gustavus, worked as a gamekeeper at Marden Park Estate near Woldingham, Surrey. Gustavus’ choice of career was not out of the ordinary for the Starmer family; his father and seven brothers were all gamekeepers as well.

Sir Keir himself has not made much of his gamekeeper relatives – however he has spoken about the importance of the ‘togetherness of the countryside’ which he experienced during his childhood in Oxted, Surrey.

It is as a reminder of the importance of the people living in the countryside, as well as Starmer’s own family heritage, that the NGO have written to Sir Keir offering to make him an Honorary Member of the NGO.

The Organisation represents over 13,000 gamekeepers, deer managers, wildlife rangers and river keepers who make up the largest group of privately funded conservationists in the United Kingdom.

Gamekeepers are working men and women who are responsible for the land, wildlife and conservation of over two thirds of Britain’s countryside. They live and work in rural locations and are genuinely part of the rural community with families at rural schools. Their home is generally tied to the job; a job which is not just employment but also a vocation. It is also a vocation that is often passed down through families ­– something demonstrated in Sir Keir’s own family tree.

As such, gamekeepers and their families play an important role in many rural communities, while their hard work both contributes towards the rural economy, and improves biodiversity and wildlife habitats.

The current government has signed up to the international ‘30x30’ pledge: to meet a target of 30% of land and sea to be protected and conserved for biodiversity by 2030.

Gamekeepers and NGO members are essential to that process, and are in a unique position to help government achieve its aims of carbon capture, biodiversity net gain and species recovery. Not only do they have the practical experience and expertise to deliver, but they genuinely want to see wildlife thrive in our countryside. 

The NGO hopes that Sir Keir will accept their offer, and that it will encourage him to consider the livelihoods and views of both gamekeepers and rural communities more widely when future policy and manifesto pledges are made.