Like in the 2021 poll, SGA members have asked us to provide information to help them make choices on the ballot paper.
Prior to the Holyrood Parliament being dissolved, we polled candidates from all parties on how they might support gamekeepers, land and river ghillies and deer/wildlife managers, if re-elected.
In this guide, we focus on the response received from Tim Eagle (Scottish Conservative candidate for Moray).
Tim, a local farmer, is a former Moray Councillor and served as an MSP for the Highlands and Islands during the last Parliament.
He was appointed the Conservatives’ Spokesman for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Fishing and sat on the Rural Affairs Committee.
SGA members may recall Tim speaking at the 2025 SGA AGM at Dunmaglass Estate and he met with the SGA to discuss a number of key issues during the last Parliament from bird monitoring, to muirburn and deer.
Tim showed a willingness to engage and help, understood many of the issues and made efforts, particularly through amendments to the Natural Environment Bill, to support the game sector.
On the impacts he believes our sector has on community, economy and biodiversity, he said:
“A huge impact. The cumulative knowledge built up over years is massive in terms of managing rural Scotland and truly understanding how to improve biodiversity and the wider rural economy.”
In terms of supporting the sector, in future, he explained: “Hopefully I already do. I’ve tried to highlight areas of concern around deer management, wild salmon, forestry, shooting, muirburn and wildfires to name a few. But one particularly serious concern for me was the land reform act last year which I felt could have massive impacts in this area.”
On the subject of policies he’d like to pursue/support/advance in the next Parliament, if re-elected, he said: “Repeal the land reform bill. Bring a new law around Scottish salmon, protect food production, and more stable grant support for rural areas, like woodland planting.”
*These guides are meant for information purposes. They are not endorsements of any individual candidate or party by the SGA. Voting is entirely down to individual preference/conscience.
If you are a candidate and want to be featured in our member Election Guides, please contact info@scottishgamekeepers.co.uk
Who else is running in Moray?
Max Bannerman, Reform UK.
Allan Duffy, Alliance to Liberate Scotland
Les Durance, Advance UK
Morven-May MacCallum, Lib Dems
Laura Mitchell, SNP
