On Saturday Libby, Jo and I, along with Harriet Hare and the gorgeous Mr Foxy, made a trip up to Perth for the Scottish Liberal Democrat party conference. Our purpose? To show party members our vision of a Snare-Free Scotland, a vision shared by a huge majority of the Scottish public. These events and publicity stunts aim to get our message across to politicians, so that when a vote on snaring takes place later on this year our vision can become reality.
All in all we had a really successful day. For one, it didn't rain, so Harriet and Foxy didn't need to run for cover. No one could deny how well they looked standing outside Perth Concert Hall. Little children especially seemed to enjoy our furry friends – it was not what they were expecting on a quiet Saturday morning! We spoke to so many people passing by, and everyone agreed that a Snare-Free Scotland is the way to go. I spoke with one lady with a lovely Labrador puppy, and she was shocked and appalled to learn that pets can also be snared, such is the indiscriminate nature of the devices. I even had a chat with a group of gamekeepers who were totally against snaring. It was very interesting to hear everyone's opinions. If you stopped by on Saturday, it was a pleasure to meet you and thank you!
Our presence at the conference definitely brought some excitement. Our Snare-Free Scotland tote bags looked awesome (I think the other stall-holders were jealous) and when I went to grab some lunch I could see people carrying them. It's great to see the campaign message spread; the more people who know and speak up for a Snare-Free Scotland, the better. Our volunteers did an amazing job on Saturday, so a big thanks to Ian, Ethne and Patricia. Ian Brown is a Lib Dem councillor, which was a huge asset as he knew so many of the delegates. Also an enormous thanks to all the Lib Dems who stopped for photographs: Jim Tolson MSP, Hugh O'Donnell MSP, John Barrett MP, Charles Kennedy MP, as well as Graham Reed, Kevin Lang, Katy Gordon, Paul Coleshill and Alex Cole Hamilton.
After a jam-packed morning Libby, Jo and I attended the Electoral Commission's Fringe meeting. It was an extremely interesting session, and the key message I took from the session is the importance of being registered to vote. It might seem dry, but registering to vote is the difference between changing the world we live in or letting the opportunity pass you by. It’s the difference between having a voice or watching silently as others make decisions that affect your life. One simple act can have so much impact, it’s incredibly important. Today, for example, I was on the train trundling along by a field when a man walking his dog stopped and waved – and everyone in the carriage including me waved back. It was so funny, and no matter what mood anyone seemed to be in before, it brought a smile to our faces. It's still bringing a smile to my face now hours later as I write this blog. Just goes to show, his one wee action really brightened up so many people's day. So make sure you are registered to vote, and remember: your vote counts!
