Socialism for the Rich -Subsidies for Scottish Shooting Estates

In a damning report produced for the League against Cruel Sports, Andy Wightman and & Dr Ruth Tingay shows how Scottish grouse shooting estates receive lavish govermnent subsidies. One estate, Glenogil, which is managed as a grouse shooting estate, receives agricultural subsidies from the Scottish Government. The presence of a sheep flock (used to 'mop up' ticks that would otherwise attack the grouse) is sufficient to qualify the estate as an agricultural holding. In 2010, the estate received £368,787 in public funds and in 2011, £346,757. Such taxpayer provided funds allows the building of electric fences and private roads that scar the countryside so that well heeled grouse shooters are saved the effort of trekking across the moors. Meanwhile, employees on grouse estates are paid less than the national minimum wage.

Regardless of whether we agree with the aims of the League against Cruel Sports, they are to be congratulated for exposing yet another example of "socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor".

Photo: Electric fencing and gate on Millden Estate, Angus, by Chris Townsend