England’s former greatest cricketer was doing his annual job of showing shooting in a poor light this morning. Oh for a live petition now! It would have amassed tens of thousands of signatures after this boorish performance by Beefy – Radio 5 Live breakfast at 08:40 – 08:48).
It’s clear that 5Live regarded ‘Both’ as the gift that kept on giving and talked to him for a long time. Its listeners were congratulating Rachel Burden on social media for keeping her cool and asking some pertinent questions along the way (see the Daily Mail of all places). In fact, the questioning was much better than the rival BBC Today programme has ever managed on this subject (note to self – must suggest to the BBC that Rachel Burden gets a pay rise since she doesn’t reach the £150k threshold, perhaps because she is, you know, a … ‘she’).
Do me a favour Ian Botham – who seems very sensitive about grouse shooting – please make these appearances more often! When asked whether there is a link between grouse shooting and illegal killing of Hen Harriers Botham said ‘No you are so, so wrong. You must stop listening to people like Chris Packham because their facts are wrong, and they were told that when they went to the Houses of Parliament. So look love (no actually, he didn’t patronisingly say ‘love’ at that point, but it would have fitted so well into his general approach) do me a favour and let’s talk about what we’re here to talk about’.
It’s unfair of the shooting industry to subject our former greatest cricketer to ridicule in this way. The government set up a working group to address the issue of wildlife crime, from grouse shooting interests, on Hen Harriers (and other protected wildlife) so do me a favour Botham, and either get your facts right or just keep quiet – although, as I say, when you spout off in this way there is no need for a campaign against grouse shooting when its supporters are so wrong, and so nasty to boot.
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This man is infuriating. I remember him calling Chris Packham a psycho on Radio 4 during a grouse shooting debate. Chris had not longer earlier admitted to suffering from both Aspergers and depression and attempting suicide twice.
Tom – are you sure he said that? I don’t remember that. But Botham lacks any couth, I agree.
It seems I misremembered events. It was Nicholas Soames who retweeted a retweet calling Packham a ‘self-confessed nutjob’.
Tom – that’s the one! The Hon member for mid Sussex.
He said he is totally opposed to ‘caged shooting’ – but fails to see the similarity to DGS!
Line up for your lead-contaminated casseroles & curries now!
Who is going to be selling this bilge?
Buy one get one free! That’s the way it works. BOGOF Botham
I was having a bit of a lie in this so a little bit drowsy, when I suddenly heard him come on, talking about his latest plan. How wonderful to listen to him instantly put up hostile defenses as soon as anything other than what HE wanted to talk about was mentioned. It was so obvious that he was rattled from the first question, that I did wonder why he had even attempted to get away with it.
Are we assume it is mere coincidence that he and he cronies have come up with this plan right now? Does he really think that the parliamentary “debate” (debacle) is the end of the matter? Oh, and while we are asking questions, will this food that is distributed to the “14 million poor,” carry any warnings about potential lead content?
So many questions.
It’s not hard for most people is it. Listen to Chris Packham and listen to Ian Botham and see which one convinces you with their arguments and the reasons for them.
Chris Packham wasn’t involved in the evidence session or in the Westminster Hall debate as I recall. Botham wrong again.
The refrain that Chris Packham’s knowledge of wildlife is weak and compares badly with those who shoot is almost de rigour in some circles. Strange then, given the claimed wealth of talent, that they pick this buffoon to articulate their views.
What a boorish uncouth man Botham is even if he now tries to speak in a posh voice.
So the poor are to be given pheasant casserole and partridge curry where for each one bought one will be donated to food banks, best not buy any then. As others have said what about the lead content?
Also we are wrong about Hen Harrier persecution because we were told so in the parliamentary debate— really? what arrant nonsense!
What is quite clear is Botham is a boorish bully, as a friend once put it I used to admire him as a cricketer now he is just a twat.
The thought of Botham in a dress, with a massive powdered, bejewelled wig on his head, saying “Let them eat grouse”, just before they drag him off to the guillotine, is going to keep me happy for a long while.
We all knew he wasn’t the brightest, but it didn’t matter when all he was doing was playing cricket, now he is just a disgraceful embarrassment. The irony / hypocrisy of him walking in South Africa to save rhinos, whilst being a leading apologist for the criminals intent on extirpating the hen harrier from England, beggars belief.
Great stuff! Knocked into the long grass – I just wish the interviewer(s) had thought to ask him why they don’t just breed the pheasants, kill them and make the dishes. Not only would that save time (they wouldn’t have to rush around the countryside trying to shoot them) but there would be more for poor – he admitted they don’t shoot them all.
I listened to the brief clip presented by the Daily Mail.
Interviewer: She asks a question about raising millions of game-birds so as to shoot them for sport.
IB: He counters and asks what about the even greater number of chickens that are grown in factories for six weeks before being slaughtered.
Both statements have equal moral concern.
My point: Unless you are a strict vegan, we are all hypocrites.
And, just to show how complicated things are, that hypocrisy tag includes dedicated vegetarians consuming, for example, anything with cow’s milk. (That’s even if it’s always 100% organic. Cattle are highly social animals who like to live within extended families in old growth forest. Moreover, their oral anatomy is adapted to browsing not grazing. And then there’s the business of removing the calf from the lactating mother etc….)
My concluding point: Animal welfare and ethical food are very important issues but, as per above, they are a waste of time and effort regarding the intensively reared game-bird debate.
The only worthwhile and winnable argument is the ecological one.
There should be public concern over the idea of donating possible lead contaminated meat to food banks, particularly as it is likely to be fed to children. Not a clever idea, Mr Botham..
Good point Sandra.
“Lead poisoning is a lot less common than it used to be with less use in petrol, paints or cosmetics and generally improved housing.The effect of long-term elevated lead levels on children is of particular concern and can lead to a reduction of IQ and to disruptive behaviour”.
Is there somewhere other than Defra (Botham’s mates) to go to for a definitive view on the likely impact of leaded meat?
Quite apart from the hole Ian Botham keeps digging for himself, recent photographs suggest he is far from well, and so his physical decline makes it even sadder a spectacle.
Just a cynical attempt to exploit human poverty in order to shine the public image of his degenerate activities. No difference from charitable donations by the Mafia.
Botham was concerned about the amount of plastic in the natural environment, when he was talking on sky sports cricket today. Is the plastic from gun cartridges biodegradable? From the amount I see in the countryside, I would assume not. Perhaps Sir Ian could help the planet and be an “Ocean Hero” and reduce his plastic footprint.
Tat Taylor – welcome to this blog and thank you for your comment.
I think you will find that, on organised shoots, they have peasants to pick them up for them and that creates employment for thousands of proper country folk. Good point though.
I talked to my elder son about this and he said he was relieved he stopped indulging LSD and E and mushrooms and skunk before he lost his marbles and started advertising cures for erectile dysfunction and peripheral artery disease but most of all before he developed a craving for curried partridge. “It’s not the shame or the craving, Da, it’s just a fookin’ fusion too far!”
I have a question, largely born out of ignorance. I understand that game meat, unlike all other meats, is exempt from the regulations that govern the permissible amounts of heavy metals in foods. However, if this meat is converted into a ready meal (casseroles and curries for example) and these meals are then sold as packaged items, does this exemption still apply?
Alf – good question. I don’t know, but I am guessing yes. Good point.
Would be good to see the business plan of this. How much they will be charging for each full price meal, and if they can offset these charitable donations against tax? I suspect there is not much altruism going on here.
Would it not be more economical and beneficial for Ian to just donate the £40k to existing and fully functional food banks? Why reinvent a system that already works well for many other charities?
It’s extremely clear that Ian is ill equipped to deal with this debate both articulately and in a diplomatic manner.
“Well done Rachel for having to put up with Ian’s masogonistic and intimidating behaviour.”
“I do wonder what it is that Ian stands to lose if the scientific research that seems so compelling rides against him – ££ ?”