We have a new Scottish Environment Minister, following the government reshuffle today. Stewart Stevenson MSP is out, and has been replaced by Paul Wheelhouse MSP.
Stevenson was ok, but always seemed slightly out of place in this role. He certainly didn’t engage with the issues as well as his predecessor, Roseanna Cunningham MSP had done. It would be fair to say he’d been unmemorable, but at least he didn’t sanction anything stupid during his time.
We don’t know much about Paul Wheelhouse, but a cursory glance at his page on the SNP website (here) gives us reason to be optimistic – he’s a member of the SSPCA and the RSPB.
We’ll be following his political activities with great interest.
Raptor Persecution UK 
The first thing he should do is have a truly independent revue of why the scottish justice system is failing to curb raptor persecution…why police forces give it such low priority and resources..why court cases are allowed to drag out..why we have a court system where overworked Fiscals are routinely faced with highly paid and resourced QCs in wildlife cases..and why inconsistent sentencing appears to ignore the clearly expressed views of our elected legislators. ..and a good hard look at what the NWCU actually does with public money.
The more things change……………………..this is a career politician shoehorned into a temporary post who is going to make damn sure the boat isn’t rocked in his short tenure – Buggins turn next. I’m not expecting much and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed – don’t bother to watch this space. I hardly think any of the excellent points mentioned above will even be considered let alone actioned. “He’s a member of the SSPCA and the RSPB” – so what? You can sleep in a garage but it doesn’t make you a car. I would so deeply like to be proved wrong.
Pip
It could be worse Pip – we could have a grouse moor-owning minister who enjoys cosy suppers with his Moorland Association chums and spending public money to remove buzzards for his pheasant-shooting chums.
It could be worse – but it could also be a whole lot better – at least with “a grouse moor-owning minister” we’d know where we stood – my judgement on the efficacy of this latest incumbent remains – reserved. Maybe we all need to club together and “buy” ourselves a minister – it’s the done thing – isn’t it?
Environment Minister – Pah!
Pip
A little bit more here:-
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/Scottish-Cabinet/Paul-Wheelhouse-MSP
Free advice for SNP….Given the UK governments woeful recent environmental record wouldnt it be a good vote/referendum catching idea to become more pro-environment?…it is a no-brainer that there are more votes in catching wildlife criminals than in sucking up to the landowning/shooting lobby in Scotland.Highlight the differences on this and you push forward the independence agenda.