Perhaps more than any other, this election has blurred the lines between satire and reality. So much of the politicking is beyond parody…
But we are truly through the looking glass with this one. UKIP have provided what looks like a biting satire of their anti-immigration stance – with a hilarious response to an innocuous question about wildlife.
BBC Wildlife asked each of the main political parties the question: ‘Should the UK introduce extinct native species such as wolves or lynx?’
Most of the parties responded with fairly sensible, if non-committal answers – there were clear merits but a lot would depend on detailed studies and key factors.
Some, such as the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the SNP, cited a recent pilot scheme to reintroduce beavers into the UK as a trial that may inform the decision.
But the response from UKIP was pure gold. It reads like a particularly scathing metaphor that they didn’t mean to make:
“Definitely not. This is a completely irresponsible proposal. Large numbers of British livestock – not to mention unwary humans – would be easy prey and there is simply not room on our crowded island to entertain this madcap idea.”
So there you have it. As far as immigration goes, two legs bad, four legs worse…
