Hilary Benn is a vegetarian and son of Tony Benn, who was also a Labour MP and Minister. It will be interesting to see how Hilary Benn directs the situation not only in the short term — the day-to-day crisis management of this outbreak appears to be more decisive than the one in 2001 — but also in the long term, that is, the British government’s policy is largely unchanged with respect to the use of foot and mouth vaccines.
The Grumpy Vegan hopes — indeed, expects — to see the Minister pursue a more enlightened policy with respect to Foot and Mouth. It’s regrettable that the Labour government hasn’t yet learned the lesson of the 2001 outbreak and determined public policy to require the use of a foot and mouth vaccine.
Have we really reached a point in time when a vegetarian minister in charge of the nation’s agricultural policies can initiate vital changes in how farmed animals are reared, transported and slaughtered?
