News / Politics
Bristol MP’s views ‘verging on the cranky’
The chief executive of the Countryside Alliance has called Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy’s view on farming as “verging on the cranky”.
McCarthy, who was appointed as the new shadow Environment Secretary by Jeremy Corbyn, was taking criticism over an interview in a vegan magazine published in March in which she said meat-eating should be treated like smoking.
Tim Bonner, from the Countryside Alliance, told The Telegraph: “Kerry McCarthy’s views on meat eating and livestock farming are completely out of step with the vast majority of people. Her ideas are verging on the cranky.
“This appointment is only going to make it more difficult for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party to reconnect with rural Britain.”
In the original interview with Viva!Life, McCarthy said: “Progress on animal welfare is being made at the EU level and I feel it is best left to those campaigning groups working there but in the end it comes down to not eating meat and dairy.
“I really believe that meat should be treated in exactly the same way as tobacco with public campaigns to stop people eating it.”
McCarthy sought to clarify her views on Radio 4 Farming Today this week. She said: “The world is not going to turn vegan because I am in post.
“I have my own personal views on what I choose to eat, but I accept that we have a livestock industry in this country.
“What I want is for the industry to have the best welfare standards possible, to be sustainable as well as economically viable.”
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