New Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet appointments have caused a stir this week, not least in the farming world, where opinion has been split over the appointment of Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy as shadow Defra secretary.  

Although some livestock and hunting interests have claimed McCarthy’s views are “based on emotion” and lack scientific support, others have hailed her appointment as a demonstration that Corbyn’s camp values animal welfare and the environment.

McCarthy herself has explained that her veganism is her own personal choice and that she will represent farming interests fairly. She has campaigned against blood sports and the badger cull, and for animal welfare causes in the past.

This isn’t the first time an appointment to the environment brief has caused controversy; vegetarian Hilary Benn served as Defra secretary in the last Labour government and suspected climate change denier Owen Paterson held the same position during the Coalition.

Reacting to the announcement earlier this week, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the hunting lobby group Countryside Alliance, said, “We look forward to hearing how Ms McCarthy, who is patron of the Vegan society which believes ‘animal farming is no longer sustainable and severely damaging to the environment’ and is ‘against all shooting sports’ intends to re-engage the Labour party with the rural community.”

However, the Vegan Society, of which McCarthy is a patron, welcomed her appointment. CEO Jasmijn de Boo said, “We have the utmost confidence in Kerry McCarthy in her new role as the shadow Defra minister. We will also seek to work more closely with the Government Defra minister, Liz Truss, and hope that cross-party agreements can be reached on various issues, farmers’ livelihoods in particular.”

de Boo used the opportunity to call for greater recognition and support for diversity in the UK’s plant-based agriculture, which the Vegan Society spokesperson said is key to addressing issues facing the Defra brief.

“There is common ground: we all want environmental and food sustainability, and a long term future for farmers,” de Boo added, “McCarthy’s track record of compassion in the Commons is conducive for far greater discussion on these very issues. We support farmers and growers, and now is the time to act. Government subsidies for farmers wishing to move towards sustainable crop farming is the best next step.”