Veganism 'will not affect Labour policy in relation to the farming industry', says Kerry McCarthy

Kerry McCarthy, the new Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Kerry McCarthy, the new Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Newly appointment Shadow Defra Secretary Kerry McCarthy has asserted her veganism will not alter Labour’s policy when it comes to agriculture.

Her appointment was greeted among environmental and animal welfare campaigners, but was received within the farming community with a degree of bewilderment.

Ms McCarthy has been one of Parliament's most fierce critics of modern mainstream farming. Before her appointment she was chairwoman of a Parliamentary group on agroecology.

The 50-year-old Bristol East MP, who has been a vegan for 20 years, has campaigned to inspire the public to eat less meat and highlighted the ‘immense suffering’ she believes animals are exposed to by the farming industry.

She has also been a fierce critic of the badger cull, as well as hunting in general, and has campaigned on pesticide issues and antibiotic usage in farming.

She is also an avid campaigner on food waste, and just like week introduced a 'Food Waste Bill' in Parliament.

Ms McCarthy wrote in her blog this week that she was ‘delighted’ with her new appointed role.

Emphasising her role on various Parliamentary groups connected to ‘sustainable farming’ and the environment, she said:

“As you will know, I have a long standing interest in the issues within this portfolio: protecting our natural environment and biodiversity; promoting sustainable food and farming; campaigning on food waste and food poverty; marine conservation; and animal welfare.

She went on to say, “Although I have been vegan for many years, this will not affect Labour policy in relation to the farming industry, although I am of course keen to see farmers adopt the highest welfare standards, and keen to develop policies which promote a move away from intensive, industrialised farming.”

She understood the pressures facing the current dairy crisis. She said: “I will no doubt be meeting with farmer’s representatives soon, and when the new Shadow Minister for Farming and Food is confirmed in post, this will be one of his/ her first tasks, to look into the urgent need for farmers to get a fair deal for their milk.”

Ms McCarthy described food and farming policy as a ‘hugely important area of public policy, currently facing major challenges’.