New shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy has moved to reassure farmers and growers that she supports British agriculture despite being a vegan.
At a speech at the Labour conference this week (w/c 28 September) McCarthy addressed claims that some people are “worried” about her veganism, and said that she wants British farming to be “economically viable”.
The news comes as last week she faced criticism after it emerged that in the past she has said meat should be treated in the same way as tobacco, with campaigns to reduce consumption.
“The world is not going to turn vegan because I am in post,” she said. 'I have my own personal views on what I choose to eat, but I accept that we have a livestock industry in this country.”
She also supported current environment secretary Liz Truss’ promotional drive for British produce, and agreed that better food labelling would help British consumers buy homegrown food.
'I'd much rather see people buy British lamb and British apples than imports from halfway around the world,” she said.
McCarthy also used her speech to joke about a comment from a UKIP MEP who had reportedly said that she would have 'little in common with the consumers of food”.
She told delegates: 'You're smarter than UKIP. I can let him in on a secret – I do eat food, and much of it is produced by Britain's farmers.”
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