Owen Patterson, the Oswestry MP and Environment Secretary who refuses to raise a finger in defence of the local hill fort seems to be changing his attitude. He has just told a group from Oswestry that he supports them!
Not the hillfort group though. A rhino group. They- and he – are bitterly opposed to poaching in Kenya. See here (scroll down).
So why does he care about rhinos but not hill forts? Well, he read History at Cambridge. Not Prehistory. See? And as for rhinos, his family had a leather business and he’s President of the European Tanners Association so he probably has the hide of one. Well, not probably, definitely, else he wouldn’t have the very first words on his website “I represent the people of North Shropshire” !
So what can we deduce? Well two things maybe.
First, Mr Paterson’s instincts for conservation only operate in West Africa.
And second, rhino poachers aren’t Tory party donors.
The Heritage Journal 
5 comments
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20/01/2014 at 08:09
Diana Baur
Hmmm – yes and along with all the other local people around here we are shocked about the now extinct black rhino, but if he’s about to start representing us, could there be a ray of hope on the horizon?
20/01/2014 at 09:55
Tish Farrell
I lived in Kenya for 8 years so well understand the assaults on wildlife, and I do believe poaching has grown worse in the last few years. I also know that there are a number of rhino sanctuaries in Kenya. It’s also good that our forces are doing something useful while they’re training out in East Africa – i.e. training rangers. But this goes beyond the ludicrous, that Mr. Paterson can stand up for rhinos, but he cannot stand up for the heritage of the people he represents as MP and of the nation he serves as minister. Shameful indeed.
20/01/2014 at 11:38
Susan Berry
So he cares about the rhino but not about our own wildlife? What a pathetic hypocrite.
20/01/2014 at 13:37
lanceleuven
I guess what can be deduced is that he thinks supporting rhinos will win him votes but supporting hill forts won’t. He is a politician afterall, that’s the way they tend to think, sadly.
20/01/2014 at 17:09
Tiff
Why doesn’t someone organise a protest march from the town centre to the farm that is selling off the land and let the farmer know how everyone feels. Time for some real non violent protest to get the message across and some media attention!