JUST when I thought politics couldn’t sink any lower, a Government quango announces out of the blue that farmers can no longer control avian vermin.
This ludicrous decision was forced on Natural England (NE) after a court case brought by a small campaign group called Wild Justice.
Co-founded by biased BBC presenter Chis Packham, he and other members are sworn to stop shooting, apparently at the cost of common sense.
Virtually overnight, the killing or removing of carrion crows, magpies, rooks and other avian pests became illegal, despite well documented evidence that they attack new-born lambs, devour crops, spread disease and kill wild birds.
So the timing of this ban at the exact time of year where wild birds are breeding and farmers most need to protect their livestock and crops is most unfortunate.
It’s perhaps ironic, too, that this happened in the very week that the RSPB issued a new recording, aimed at supporting dwindling songbird numbers.
Now, unable to control their predators at all, that situation can only worsen.
To his credit, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has reacted fast, reinstating the first specific licence for carrion crows on 26 April, the day after the ban.
Others will follow fast, hopefully in time to protect vulnerable animals, birds and crops.
But the system will now be unnecessarily complicated, with each type of destructive bird requiring an individual application.
Mr Gove promised less red tape under his leadership, not more, and I very hope he can put this situation right.
The case is not helped by that fact that it coincided with the chairman of NE’s very first day on the job.
Tony Juniper is a former executive director of Friends of the Earth.
I just hope this is not a sign of things to come.