Thursday, September 02, 2004
Where's the beef?
Brian Walters, writing in yesterday's South Wales Evening Post, draws my attention to an intriquing comment by the Tory AM for Mid and West Wales, Glyn Davies. I cannot find a link to the piece so I have copied it out below:
'I must confess, McDonalds never struck me as a symbol of nutritious food. But Tory AM Glyn Davies has been won over by its commitment to healthy eating. The keep-fit addict said: "McDonalds restaurants use 100 per cent British beef, are cutting back hugely on salt levels, are promoting salads in all of its restaurants, and are plastering its packaging with nutritional information." How perceptions can change!'
It seems that Glyn's experience of McDonalds is based on quality time spent with some of their top people. The latest register of members' interests reveals two entries under his name of hospitality he has received from the fast food chain. The first reveals that he enjoyed 'overnight accommodation in Marriott Hotel Cardiff for myself and wife. Hospitality and match tickets for Manchester Utd v Arsenal Community Shield Final football match for self and 3 guests provided by McDonald's Restaurants Ltd.' Whilst the second states that he followed this up with 'overnight accommodation in the Hilton Hotel Cardiff on 7 August 2004 for myself and wife. Hospitality and match tickets for Manchester Utd v Arsenal Community Shield Final football match for self and wife on 8 August 2004 provided by MacDonalds Restaurants Ltd.'
Glyn is not the only Assembly Member to have benefitted in this way. Entries in the register reveal that Leighton Andrews (Labour), Alun Cairns (Tory), Brian Gibbons (Labour), John Griffiths (Labour), Alun Pugh (Labour) and Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Plaid Cymru) have all enjoyed McDonalds' largesse. By far the most graphic entry comes from Rhondda AM, Leighton Andrews:
'Dinner for my wife and myself, lunch and ticket for myself for the 2004 Community Shield, plus 2 football kits and 4 mini footballs - all courtesy of MacDonalds.'
'I must confess, McDonalds never struck me as a symbol of nutritious food. But Tory AM Glyn Davies has been won over by its commitment to healthy eating. The keep-fit addict said: "McDonalds restaurants use 100 per cent British beef, are cutting back hugely on salt levels, are promoting salads in all of its restaurants, and are plastering its packaging with nutritional information." How perceptions can change!'
It seems that Glyn's experience of McDonalds is based on quality time spent with some of their top people. The latest register of members' interests reveals two entries under his name of hospitality he has received from the fast food chain. The first reveals that he enjoyed 'overnight accommodation in Marriott Hotel Cardiff for myself and wife. Hospitality and match tickets for Manchester Utd v Arsenal Community Shield Final football match for self and 3 guests provided by McDonald's Restaurants Ltd.' Whilst the second states that he followed this up with 'overnight accommodation in the Hilton Hotel Cardiff on 7 August 2004 for myself and wife. Hospitality and match tickets for Manchester Utd v Arsenal Community Shield Final football match for self and wife on 8 August 2004 provided by MacDonalds Restaurants Ltd.'
Glyn is not the only Assembly Member to have benefitted in this way. Entries in the register reveal that Leighton Andrews (Labour), Alun Cairns (Tory), Brian Gibbons (Labour), John Griffiths (Labour), Alun Pugh (Labour) and Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Plaid Cymru) have all enjoyed McDonalds' largesse. By far the most graphic entry comes from Rhondda AM, Leighton Andrews:
'Dinner for my wife and myself, lunch and ticket for myself for the 2004 Community Shield, plus 2 football kits and 4 mini footballs - all courtesy of MacDonalds.'
