The Tories did another U-turn this week, this time on their proposed policy to blast buzzard nests with shotguns in the name of 'research'. The real reason for the proposed cull was so that certain sporting gentlemen like millionaire landowner, Richard Benyon, Minister responsible for wildlife, could shoot pheasants to their hearts' content, unhampered by the buzzards for which the pheasant is a natural prey. Since there is nothing natural about a Purdey shotgun, the blast of public opinion has forced the sporting gentlemen to withdraw. Last week, they had to shelve their Pasty Tax -- a victory for bakers everywhere and especially for crimpers of the Cornish 'croust' which, in its humble way, does so much for the local economy, far more than Charles, Duke of Cornwall with his overpriced Duchy biscuits.
Margaret Thatcher once made a famous pun about U-turns: 'You turn if you want to. The Lady's not for turning.' Well, Baroness Iron Pants, they're turning now. Let's hope this heralds an open season on other draconian proposals intended to safeguard the interests of the land-owning class at the expense of the poor and disenfranchised. Bang, bang, and another one bites the dust.
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| Nesting Birds by Richard Faisey |
