There has been much fuss from the Scottish Tories and the Scottish Gamekeeper’s Association about the Scottish National Party/Green coalition. They suggested that thousands in the countryside would be made jobless and millions of pounds in tax revenue would be lost if the Greens went into government. But what effect will the Greens actually have?

As is often the case the devil is in the detail. The reality is that most of the actions in relation to wildlife crime that the Greens have pushed are excluded from the coalition agreement. The principle mover in the licensing of mountain hare culling is now the presiding officer and no longer able to initiate or amend legislation. The Greens are in coalition and no longer get a slot at First Minister’s questions. Nor are they able to initiate legislation without the support of their Scottish National Party (SNP) partners. Whilst the SNP talk a good story about wildlife crime effective action is in very short supply. The sudden announcement of grouse moor licensing before last Christmas was almost certainly provoked by the fear of revelations in court the following day. In the event the case was continued but when it finally does take place it will prove interesting.

The Green Party Twitter account is talking up a new National Park for Scotland but how about some real protection for the wildlife that is being massacred in the two parks that we currently have?

The Greens are are clearly proud to be in government and we believe that they are genuine in their desire to combat wildlife crime but has joining the coalition made that more difficult or even impossible for them. Before they entered government they could negotiate to support the SNP on a case by case basis pushing their own amendments for things like mountain hare licensing but now they can’t. Hopefully they have not been out manoeuvred by a more politically astute partner.

The public has serious concerns about wildlife crime and the failure to tackle it effectively. They are looking for action from the Greens on this and it could have been an easy ‘win’ for them. Instead they are in coalition with a party that has talked tough for years but to no effect. Perhaps the Greens should remember the fate of the Liberal Democrats after their coalition with the Tories at Westminster. Let’s hope they don’t go the same way.