Shadow secretary singles out food manufacturing

By Alice Foster

- Last updated on GMT

Shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs Kerry McCarthy
Shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs Kerry McCarthy

Related tags Milk Industry

Food manufacturing has been singled out by the new shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy.

The appointment of McCarthy by new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sparked controversy last week because she is one of the few vegan Members of Parliament (MPs).

On her website​, the shadow secretary stressed her interest in a wide range of issues such as food waste and poverty, sustainable food and animal welfare.

‘Not just a rural issue’

View on vegan diet

“Although I have been vegan for many years, this will not affect Labour policy in relation to the farming industry."

  • Kerry McCarthy, Labour shadow environment secretary 

“Food and farming is not just a rural issue, it affects and involves us all,”​ she said.

“And it’s not just about farmers, but about the role of our supermarkets and food manufacturing industry, and of course about consumers too.

“I look forward in the new role to working across the board with everyone with an interest in policy development.”

The MP, who is patron of food poverty charity FoodCycle, recently introduced a food waste reduction bill which is listed for a second reading in January.

As vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports, she has campaigned against the badger cull and fox hunting and sees animal welfare as an important priority. 

‘Vegan for many years’

“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 said.

“The dairy industry – Britain’s largest agricultural sector – has been facing considerable pressures.”

Veteran left-winger Corbyn confirmed last week that Labour would fight to keep the country in the EU.

Earlier this year the manufacturing organisation EEF picked out the risk of Britain quitting the EU as the biggest single threat to UK manufacturing. 

Meanwhile, don’t miss a selection of McCarthy’s views aired before her promotion to the Labour front bench. 

McCarthy in her own words

  • Blog, July 2008: ​Meat is murder. Which means, I suppose, that milk must be manslaughter ...”
  • Bristol Post, May 2014: ​People have the right to know what is in the food they’re buying, no matter whether it’s locally-sourced grass-fed meat from the organic butcher or it’s a late night kebab from a takeaway.
  • Blog, May 2012: “I’d rather cows milk was consumed by baby cows, not people.” 
  • Website, December 2013: “One of the most shocking examples of the impact the cost of living crisis is having on local households is the growing number of people who are living in food poverty and are relying on food banks.”

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