The one in the middle is the loser

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No context. No nothing. frick you?

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The "Giant Bird" (Left): This is Robert Pownall, founder of the wildlife advocacy group Protect the Wild. He stood as an independent candidate in the election, campaigning entirely in this giant gannet costume to bring attention to his single-issue platform.

Angus Robertson (Center): A veteran politician from the Scottish National Party (SNP) and former cabinet minister. He was the incumbent for Edinburgh Central but lost his seat in this election.

Lorna Slater (Right): A politician from the Scottish Greens. This photo was taken as she was declared the winner of the seat, marking the first time the Scottish Greens have ever won a constituency seat at Holyrood.

Context: The "Guga Hunt"
The protestor's placard, "END THE GUGA HUNT," refers to the UK's last legal seabird hunt.

What it is: An annual tradition where 10 men from the Isle of Lewis travel to the remote island of Sula Sgeir to kill young gannet chicks (known in Gaelic as guga).

The Legal Status: While killing wild birds is generally illegal in the UK, this hunt is allowed under a specific legal exemption in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The Controversy: Campaigners like Pownall argue the hunt is "cruel" and unnecessary in a modern "biodiversity crisis". Conversely, many islanders view it as an essential part of their cultural heritage and traditional sustenance.

Pownall's goal was not necessarily to win the seat but to use the televised election count to force the issue into the national spotlight. Following the event, the Scottish Greens—the only mainstream party to publicly support ending the hunt—welcomed the increased attention on the issue.

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