News / Politics
MP defends vegan stance in maiden speech
Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy defended her appointment as Shadow Environment Secretary and promised to fight for an “environmentally sustainable” farming industry in her first ever Labour Conference speech.
Taking to the stage in Brighton for the first time in 23 years of attending the annual event, the Bristol East MP responded to claims that her vegan lifestyle would be detrimental to her new post.
“Yes, I am a vegan, as you may have read,” she told the crowd. “And some people are worried about that,” she added.
“A Ukip MP said he was worried about my appointment as I would have little in common with consumers of food,” she continued, to the laughs of the conference hall. “You are smarter than Ukip, I can see that.
“Well, I can let him in on a secret; I do eat food – and much of it is produced by British farmers.
“Let me make it clear: I support British farming. I want it to be economically viable, environmentally sustainable and to have the very best animal welfare standards.
“I want us to make big steps to greater food security, for Britain to be a country which can feed itself.”
McCarthy has come under fire since her appointment by Jeremy Corbyn earlier this month, with the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance calling her views on farming as “verging on the cranky”.
He was responding to comments McCarthy made in an online vegan magazine saying meat-eating should be treated like smoking.
McCarthy is now Bristol’s longest serving MP, following the retirement of former Bristol South MP Dawn Primarolo.
Pictures courtesy of the BBC.
Read about Bristol mayor candidate Marvin Rees’ conference speech.
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