STEREOTYPING Scottish Gamekeeper 17

‘Now we just need to keep keep just need to we ‘Now (RPUK, May 2010) (RPUK, May is threatened: Wheelhouse Paul article, the BBC to ‘According Wheelhouse Paul Minister Environment yet indication his strongest has given measures new of that the introduction persecution is raptor illegal tackle to he’s frank, be brutally To imminent. a of centre at the find himself to going he doesn’t’. if fucking shit-storm 2013) Jun (RPUK, Environment Wheelhouse Paul party SNP speaking at Minister persecution: about raptor conference warning, heed the “I hope offenders industry is a strong what stop spoiling and Scotland, for economy in the rural will not we as I say, no mistake, make listen to do not they to act if hesitate saying”. are we what RPUK: the fire to feet holding the Minister’s to amount that these threats ensure to 14) (RPUK Nov than just rhetoric’. more if will be rewarded Aileen McLeod Dr. she behaves: need more that ‘we being told keep We the new of to assess the impact time it bleedin’ Isn’t do we? Why measures’. is persecution that raptor obvious all the so-called despite continuing and measures new partnership-working, be well may Minister The deterrents? bombarded gets inbox that her irritated can crime but she raptor each after and every the same each of expect more And crime. yet another of we hear time words. mark our will be more, there and when that if should also know She with a stand make she decides to she’ll and tangible, something forceful appreciation with emails of be deluged and support (RPUK 21.9.15). Woe betide anyone who does not who does not anyone betide Woe environment successive conform, been made frequently ministers have by accompanied wrath, the to feel threats: ‘thick’: is Cunningham Roseanna (Scottish Cunningham ‘Roseanna you and SNH – Minister) Environment – we yourselves should be ashamed of Ministers you. from better expected scheme licensing claim that the new raptor illegal prevent will help to you?’ thick are Just how persecution. Cunningham’s endeavours all the all the endeavours Cunningham’s should all we and difficult, more voicing when that in mind bear we to say not That’s criticism. our on to criticise; continue shouldn’t should Government the the contrary, and account to be held expect to years the last few over public pressure long way, very things a has brought criticism our sure make need to but we RPUK target.’ is aimed at the right 2017 June

show her hand... It looks like she just she just looks like It hand... her show 2015) July (RPUK has’. Politics, Networks and Campaigns Networks Politics, Whilst it is recognised and and recognised it is Whilst is game-shooting that respected that is apparent it everyone, for not to be claims their RPUK, despite wish to do not conservationists, a moors are grouse acknowledge and endangered rare many for haven and flora both moorland species, the considerable fauna and ignore economy. rural fragile to the benefits frustrate and resent they Furthermore, working at partnership attempts any who actively politicians and condemn industry. with the shooting engage Aware of the political interest in in the political interest of Aware frequently the blog, the editor politicians to challenges and solidarity their demonstrate action demands for to her respond RPUK are legislation. and further and aim to optimise savvy politically to advantage: the political scene in rural us interested those of ‘For and decisions in Scotland, policy to dealing related those particularly persecution, it’s raptor with illegal to a moment taking worth well divisions within the political consider those divisions because the SNP Roseanna make will undoubtedly Ruth Tingay has many connections connections has many Tingay Ruth campaign and considerable Justice, Wild of director A experience. Chris Packham with together Ruth, to ban campaign Avery and Mark to attempt and shooting grouse driven licences, general the issue of thwart judicial a won also just have they RPUK release. bird game into review the REVIVE coalition of is a member moor grouse which campaigns for of and REVIVE is a supporter reform (Scotlink) Link Environment Scottish is also Tingay which Ruth with of Forum Scotlink The associated. 38 members and are which there includes supporters numerous Group, Study Raptor the Scottish RSPB the Earth, of Friends Onekind, Trust and Wildlife Scottish The and an active promoting currently are for fight ‘To which claims campaign Nature’. Scotland’s to with assimilation blog RPUK The and close links ideology party Green a provides Greens, to the Scottish network this extensive for conduit regarding copious information offering lobbying political allegiances, and fund-raising petitions contacts, campaigns various support to requests culls and more badger such as fighting a Wild towards contributing recently, investigation forensic for fund Justice crimes. raptor into

We’ve been waiting for Dr McLeod to McLeod Dr for been waiting We’ve at the Scottish Game Fair yesterday…… Fair Game at the Scottish Gamekeeper of the Year Award 2015 Award Year the of Gamekeeper as she presented the SGA’s Young Young the SGA’s as she presented the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association Gamekeepers’ the Scottish significant and valuable contribution” of contribution” valuable and significant Minister, Dr Aileen McLeod, praising “the praising Aileen McLeod, Dr Minister, now we have Scotland’s Environment Environment Scotland’s have we now actually they’re anything but … And but … anything they’re actually and harvested ‘sustainably’ when ‘sustainably’ and harvested that red grouse are ‘healthy’, natural’ natural’ ‘healthy’, are grouse that red the grouse shooting industry, claiming industry, shooting the grouse Scotland’s dead wildlife pantry and pantry dead wildlife Scotland’s nature conservation body, promoting promoting body, conservation nature Heritage, the Government’s statutory statutory the Government’s Heritage, ‘A few days ago we had Scottish Natural Natural had Scottish we ago days few ‘A Fair at Scone: at Fair attending the SGA tent at the Game at the tent the SGA attending more unacceptable was Dr. McLeod McLeod Dr. was unacceptable more What RPUK considered was even even was RPUK considered What environment?’ grouse) is good for us and good for the for us and good for is good grouse) claiming that eating this product (red (red claiming that eating this product such shocking ecological credentials and credentials such shocking ecological actively promoting an industry with an industry promoting actively is this statutory conservation agency agency conservation is this statutory ‘What on earth is SNH playing at? Why ‘What on earth is SNH playing at? Why as a natural and valuable food source. source. food valuable and as a natural and others to promote game and fish game and to promote and others a joint initiative from SNH with BASC with from SNH initiative a joint food tent for Scotland’s Natural larder, larder, Natural Scotland’s for tent food McLeod was seen in attendance at the seen in attendance was McLeod the Highland show in 2015. Dr. in 2015. Dr. show the Highland Environment Secretary who attended who attended Secretary Environment SNH and Dr. Aileen McLeod, the then McLeod, Aileen SNH and Dr. food source brought criticism of both both of criticism brought source food Highlighting grouse as a sustainable grouse Highlighting diseased and unsustainably harvested. harvested. diseased and unsustainably claiming red grouse to be toxic, toxic, to be grouse claiming red seek to undermine the industry the industry seek to undermine birds or to the wider rural economy, economy, rural wider to the or birds to red-listed waders and other nesting and other waders to red-listed indirect benefits of grouse shooting shooting grouse of benefits indirect (RPUK 2018). RPUK, ignoring the RPUK, ignoring (RPUK 2018). of Rogues’ with ‘idiots’ at the helm. the at ‘idiots’ with Rogues’ of ostracised and renamed ‘The Gift Gift ‘The renamed and ostracised other related business, is predictably business, is predictably related other and their families to restaurants and and to restaurants families and their involvement from estates, keepers keepers estates, from involvement and highlights the wider industry industry wider the and highlights which promotes grouse shooting shooting grouse promotes which 18 Scottish Gamekeeper STEREOTYPING • • • • • • • are as follows: species championsinthecurrent Champions’.’ Excluding owls, raptor wildlife by becoming ‘Species protection of Scotland’s threatened (MSPs) supporttothe tolend political Members of theScottish Parliament initiative, ‘Species Championasks Species ChampionisaScotlink (RPUK Jun 2018). raptors andother protected species…’ seeing you continue to speakup for ‘Well done,Mairi, we lookforward to Natural Environment. role asMinister for Rural Affairs and with favour when appointed toher new champion, Mairi Gougeon was met In contrast, thehenharrier species fool of himself (RPUK2017). as a‘dim-witted dinosaur’a andmaking was heavily and criticised referred to rise inthenumbersof birds of prey, DUP, after expressing concern at the who come under attack; Jim Shannon, Scottish ministers are not theonly ones Hen Harrier Mairi Gougeon SNP MSP: John Mason SNP:MSP:Kestrel Bob Dorris SNP MSP:Peregrine Bill KiddSNP MSP:Red Kite Merlin Donald Cameron Conservative MSP: White Tailed Sea Eagle Mike Ruskell Green MSP: Golden Eagle Andy Wightman Green MSP: of raptor species Scotlink allocation Currently 129MSPs 5% 4% 2% Greens Conservatives SNP Other Liberal Greens Scot Labour Conservatives SNP

When aneagle was observed for them. honest, I’m tired of makingexcuses like they just don’t care andto be be pretty damaging – itlooks refusal to comment mustactually remaining silent? If anything, their What can they possibly gain by politicians, not those in Holyrood. come to expectfrom Westminster on…….This silence iswhatwe’ve don’t know what’s beengoing it can’t possibly bebecause they tweeting aboutother and stuff) they’re onholiday (they’re allstill on suchbarbarity. It’s not because people have refused to comment decent andnormally dynamic three intelligent, thoughtful, ‘It isutterly bafflingwhy these found inatrap: 16.7.19 Regarding ahenharrier antagonism: condemnation not tomention a peculiar mixture of flattery and investigation or incident, there is rightly remain silent over an Cunningham andMairi Gougeon , Roseanna When Scottish Ministers tweed’ andtheir alliances. condemnation of the‘menin in complete contrast tothe This favour of theingroup is 13.8.19 particular issuefor allthese years. has maintained thepressure onthis especially to Mark Ruskell MSP who ‘Kudos to theScottish Greens and With reference toMark Ruskell: awe of him’(April 2017) ‘We don’t justadmire him,we’re in With reference to Andy Wightman met with favour: The are certainly Tingay of RPUKisassociated? Government and with which Ruth from SNHandtheScottish organisation that receives funding deliberate ploy by Scotlink, an Scottish Greens. Is this a distributed infavour of the species are disproportionately It could beargued that raptor

own worldview (Esses et al,2010). the perceived ‘correctness’ of their group dominance andstrengthen serve toreinforce theideology of deliberate; itcould beargued they however that may also be endorsements are apparent, their campaigns. The ingroup the networks that exist and evidence ontheRPUKblog, Political alliances are muchin (RPUK April 2018) associated photos of pigstesticles. of complete bollocksaward’ with ridiculed, referred toas‘Winners Moorland Group were also The award andthe Angus Glens they’re allConservatives.’ Fool MSPs have signedit.Strangely The response: ‘Sofar, 13 April congratulation and recognition. the Scottish Parliament, seeking submittedamotion to Awards ceremony, their localMSP, category at theScottish Rural Conservation and Environment were awarded winners of the Angus Glens Moorland Group do not findfavour; in2018,the The Conservatives, however, (RPUK 13 Aug 2019) Toy story, again with cartoon. Drummond with Sherriff Woody of was toolenient, parody Sherriff 2010, RPUK upset that asentence is alsoquestioned. Similarly, in and thecalibre of their evidence considered ‘idiotic’ (Nov 2014) 2010). Their press releases are with cartoonfigure (RPUK Oct and referred toasPCPlod The police are frequently belittled and scorn. evidence, that tooismet with ire oflack evidence or permissible if casesare dropped through there ismuchirritation. Similarly, crime are deemed insufficient, the sentences given outfor raptor the judiciary are alsochallenged. If held toaccount, thepolice and Politicians are not theonly ones Authority atrocities that hasledto thesecontinuing collective failure to actdecisively to make excuses for you. It is your politicians, Iamnolonger prepared you asstrong, intelligent female Gougeon, asmuchIadmire Roseanna Cunningham andMairi I’m sorry, Nicola Sturgeon, accusation: mix ofapology, flattery and commentary was aconfusing attached toitsleg,againthe Park with asupposedtrap flying intheCairngorms National