No Glorious Twelfth at M&S... again

THERE won’t be a very Glorious Twelfth this year – and no M&S Glorious Twelfth at all.

The high street retailer has confirmed it will not be selling red grouse this year, blaming Scotland’s miserable weather.

It is the second year in a row that Marks & Spencer has failed to sell the game bird, whose shooting season starts tomorrow.

While last year’s absence was put down to pressure from conservationists, M&S insists the weather this year has not produced enough birds.

The company sources its birds from a single estate in the Borders, where rainfall has hit record levels.

An M&S spokesman said: ‘Our team of experts have spent the last year working with industry experts and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust to launch the industry’s first Code of Practice to ensure all game, including grouse, is sourced to the highest standards.

‘Unfortunately, because of poor spring weather conditions, the single estate we had intended to source red grouse from does not yet have sufficient quantities of red grouse, so they will not be selling it this year.’

But wildlife activists claimed they had again forced the decision on M&S.

The Raptor Persecution website said: ‘Using poor weather as a reason keeps everyone happy. “We” are happy because they’re not selling red grouse and “they” [grouse industry supporters] are happy because M&S isn’t publicly saying red grouse is an unethical, unhealthy and unsustainable product (which it is).

‘Whatever, we’re delighted M&S won’t be stocking red grouse this year.’