Vegan shadow MP

How does the UK mainstream press respond to a vegan being appointed to the position of Shadow Secretary for environment, food and rural affairs.

Well, take a look at some of the headlines below. They range from relatively straightforward to hysterical.

Jeremy Corbyn appoints vegan Kerry McCarthy to deal with Britain’s farmers – The Independent

(Not too dramatic but the term ‘deal with’ is a bit loaded)

‘No Happy Mother’s Day for Britain’s pigs’: Militant vegan MP who branded livestock farming ‘dirty and cruel’ is given shadow cabinet role… trying to connect with British farmers – Mail Online

(Militant is the key word here – it sets up what is primarily an attack on the concept of compassion including the idea of how outrageous it is that Kerry doesn’t wear wool)

Now Jeremy Corbyn puts vegan ‘who wants to eradicate farms’ in charge of… FARMS – The Express

(Totally misrepresents the concept of rejecting violence towards animals as an anti-farm crusade – I’ve never met anybody who is anti-farm! LOL)

Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy wins place in Jeremy Corbyn’s reshuffled cabinet – Bristol Post

(Non-hysterical headline from a local newspaper – although not sure how someone ‘wins’ a job)

Kerry McCarthy named as shadow Defra minister – CIWM

(Straight to the point from this waste management specialty publication)

Shadow Defra secretary revealed as anti-meat campaigner – Farmers Weekly

(This shady piece even mentions that Kerry studied Russian politics at university – subtle but trying to raise suspicion of her character)

That is just a small selection of what has been written about Kerry McCarthy over the past 24 hours.

I have nothing but admiration and respect for her. Imagine stepping into a role like this as a dedicated vegan activist when you know the deluge of character assassinations headed your way.

I’m not sure I would have said yes so willingly to such a role. Thank you for being a fearless voice for animals, Kerry.

You can follow Kerry McCarthy on Twitter.

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