Rabbits for Equal Pay

I was intrigued by this BBC article on 'rights for rabbits' campaigners who have taken their case for bunnies to enjoy greater legal protection to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

The reason being that the Scottish Parliament has had very little to say about the fight for equal pay which has been raging in Scottish councils for the post 10 years, despite the presence of scores of politicians who regard themselves variously as 'socialists', 'feminists', and committed 'trade unionists'.

"How can that possibly be?", I ask myself.

Because the fight for equal pay is a really big issue, one that MSPs of all parties should be queuing up to support, but so far at least I've not heard a 'cheep' out of Holyrood over the scandal in North Lanarkshire, for example, where 500 GMB members are still fighting their own union as well as the Labour-run council for their rights to equal pay.

Now I know it's not the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament to resolve problems created by others including Scotland's local councils and the trade unions, which are independent bodies, of course. 

So the Scottish Parliament does not have the ability to step in and bang heads together, but what politicians and government ministers can do is speak up loud and clear and say what they think when some other body has made a complete hash of things.

For example, only a few years ago a Christmas saving club "Farepak" went bust leaving families in Scotland facing an average loss of £400 and in some cases up top £2,000.

I'm sure readers recall that Scottish politicians of all parties were never off the airwaves denouncing the scandal and demanding action to put things right, yet the sums of money being 'lost' by GMB members in North Lanarkshire are much greater, of course.

Before I leave the 'rabbits require rights campaign' I have a confession to make: many years ago our family had a lovely bunny called Blackie if I recall correctly, but after a while the novelty of cleaning out the rabbit hutch wore off and Blackie was released into some local fields, as if our domesticated bunny had any chance of surviving in the wild.  

So I, for one, will be happy to sign the RRRS petition, not least as an act of contrition for poor old Blackie.

But maybe something similar would be a useful tactic to consider in forcing the issue on to the political agenda of the Scottish Parliament which would, no doubt, put the local MSPs on the spot, especially those like Elaine Smith and Michael McMahon who have close trade union links.  


Rabbit rights call could get second hearing next month

BBC Highlands & Islands

Image caption Rabbits Require Rights Scotland are seeking tighter controls on the sales of rabbits

Campaigners hope a petition calling for greater legal protection for pet rabbits will get a second hearing in Holyrood next month.

Rabbits Require Rights Scotland's 2,044-name petition was first discussed by MSPs earlier this year.

It calls for rabbits to be given the same protection as cats and dogs as well as regulations on breeding and the minimum size of housing.

Earlier this month, it emerged hundreds of pet rabbits have been abandoned.

The Scottish SPCA said it rescued 728 rabbits in 2014 and had taken 550 into care so far this year.

'Like sweeties'

Rabbits Require Rights Scotland described rabbits as the "UK's most neglected pet".

A spokeswoman said: "As the law currently stands there are no enforceable welfare protection available to rabbits.

"They are too easily sold and too easily discarded. For want of a better word, they are sold like sweeties."

Image captionThe Scottish SPCA has been dealing with dozens of unwanted pet rabbits

The spokeswoman added: "We will return to parliament for the second hearing of our petition sometime in September or October when the new session dates are announced.

"We've had some good feedback from other welfare bodies in support of our aims, so it is hoped that some level of the improvements we have called for will be addressed."