Today, the SNP's Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill was passed in the Scottish Parliament.
The SNP-Green government has once again shown their contempt for rural Scotland with the passing of this bill.
While it is undeniably right that we continue to tackle the appalling practice of raptor persecution– which is thankfully now at historic low levels – this legislation in a number of areas goes far beyond what was recommended to ministers.
Ministers seemed determined to ride roughshod over the interests of our rural communities and that is why we could not support it at its final stage.
Ultimately this bill ended up being flawed at its heart and typically under the SNP-Green government rural Scotland is now going to suffer the consequences.
With further legislation on rural issues rapidly coming forward, SNP-Green ministers must properly engage with stakeholders and take decisions backed by robust evidence.
