Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Corbyn's vegan farming and agriculture minister stirs old memories for the Welsh Assembly
They say that history repeats itself, but whether that will be the case over the decision by Jeremy Corbyn to appoint a vegan to oversee Labour policy on food and rural affairs has yet to be seen. England after all is a different political environment to Wales, where our attempt to sustain a vegetarian Minister in this brief ended in grief and her sacking back in July 2000.
The Telegraph says that Kerry McCarthy, a former party whip, is the first shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs to reject eating or using any animal products, including dairy and leather goods.
They say that among the issues the Bristol East MP, who is a patron of the Vegan Society and vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports, has campaigned on during her ten year parliamentary career are food waste, the "overuse" of antibiotics in farming and ending the badger cull.
Actually, I have a great deal of sympathy with all of those causes, though I do eat meat. And this attempt to break the mould is refreshing and worth doing. We should not forget though that poor Christine Gwyther, was harangued for her principles and her views in Wales.
Following her sacking, the new Welsh Agriculture Minister, now the First Minister of Wales, went on a summer long campaign of seeking out farmers' breakfasts and being seen eating meat at any and every opportunity. The Welsh Government returned to normality.
McCarthy is not in government of course so this does not apply in the same way. Nevertheless, the reaction of the agricultural community to her appointment will be interesting to watch.
The Telegraph says that Kerry McCarthy, a former party whip, is the first shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs to reject eating or using any animal products, including dairy and leather goods.
They say that among the issues the Bristol East MP, who is a patron of the Vegan Society and vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports, has campaigned on during her ten year parliamentary career are food waste, the "overuse" of antibiotics in farming and ending the badger cull.
Actually, I have a great deal of sympathy with all of those causes, though I do eat meat. And this attempt to break the mould is refreshing and worth doing. We should not forget though that poor Christine Gwyther, was harangued for her principles and her views in Wales.
Following her sacking, the new Welsh Agriculture Minister, now the First Minister of Wales, went on a summer long campaign of seeking out farmers' breakfasts and being seen eating meat at any and every opportunity. The Welsh Government returned to normality.
McCarthy is not in government of course so this does not apply in the same way. Nevertheless, the reaction of the agricultural community to her appointment will be interesting to watch.
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It won't be a problem, Peter.
After all, when has the UK ever had a Foreign Secretary who is actually foreign?
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After all, when has the UK ever had a Foreign Secretary who is actually foreign?
# posted by 
: 4:23 PM
: 4:23 PM<< Home
