The UK government is consulting on new animal welfare laws that would affect organizers of game bird shoots in England. ^[1] The Countryside Alliance announced a new campaign called the 'Campaign for the Countryside' on September 4, 2026, urging the UK government to reset its relationship with rural Britain. ^[2] Ministers are considering plans to issue licenses for those who run game bird shoots. ^[3] Proposals suggest that anyone associated with wildlife crime, such as the poisoning or shooting of birds of prey, would be banned from hosting shooting events. ^[4] The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is consulting on changes to reflect animal welfare laws in place for farmed animals, unlike current standards for game birds. ^[5] Campaigners cited the introduction of the Family Farm Tax, which brought death duties to British farmers for the first time, as a major grievance. ^[6] Campaigners stated that the Labour government has imposed 27 policies that they believe have harmed the rural community over the past two years. ^[7] The Countryside Alliance estimates that the countryside supports an economy worth approximately £300bn a year and employs more than 4 million jobs. ^[8]