Skip to main content
Logo icon
Vegan
Conservatives

Main navigation

  • About us
  • News
  • Get involved
  • Contact
Logo icon
Vegan
Conservatives

Vegan Conservatives welcome Business Secretary’s comments on growth of veganism

  • Tweet
Monday, 26 April, 2021
  • Articles
kwasi

We must be the last generation to industrialise animals

The Vegan Conservatives group has welcomed Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng’s call for more people to give up animal products in order to meet the UK’s target of cutting carbon emissions by 78% by 2035.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Kwarteng, the MP for Spelthorne, said, “There are challenges in terms of people changing their lifestyle, but that is happening already, without government legislation. The number of people who are vegans, who are reducing their meat intake, is going up all the time. I think that there is a lot of societal change that will actually help us and drive the progress to 2035, where hopefully we will hit the 78 per cent reduction target.”

It’s the strongest signal yet from the Government that it is impossible to address climate change without reducing meat and dairy consumption.

The industrialisation of meat and dairy contributes a triple whammy to the environment: the emissions and pollution created by the animals themselves, the destruction of forestry to feed and graze them, and the haulage and distribution involved. That’s not to mention the £6.1bn annual cost to the NHS, the loss of food sovereignty and the obvious welfare consequences of the industry.

Co-chairman of the Vegan Conservatives, Alison Knight says, “Kwasi Kwarteng is spot on with his call for more veganism in British society. Meat and dairy are environmentally-destructive and categorically not essential elements of a healthy diet and we should follow Canada’s lead in ignoring industry-sponsored “science” in formulating Government policy.

"The alternatives to cheap meat are better for health, better for the environment, better for growers, better for food security and better for the animals - not to mention reducing the risk of global pandemics.

So-called ‘clean meat’ and plant-based meats are on the rise and will be responsible for 35% and 25% of meat consumption respectively by 2040. The Vegan Conservatives are calling for the UK’s Industrial Strategy to include incubators, National Centres of Excellence and national prizes for discoveries and commercialisation, if Britain wants to lead in these areas.

Mrs Knight continues, “Veganism is not at all a political statement - it’s an ethical and pragmatic one. As Conservatives, we want to leave the world a better place than we found it.”

London Assembly Member Andrew Boff says, “Veganism is growing by itself, but were the Government to introduce incentives to drive it, set targets and nudge societal change, those climate targets start to look considerably easier.

“Switching to an electric car is an excellent step, but it’s much more effective to stop consuming animal products.”

Baroness Anne Jenkin says, "It needs to be really easy for people to make better choices. Anybody who has made the change already feels healthier and saves money, as well as knowing that they have cut carbon emissions, so it’s a win-win. As with tackling obesity, the Government needs to make sure that healthy choices become the default option."

Co-chairman Graham Godwin-Pearson says, “Our grandchildren will look back and wonder why on earth people chose to consume animal products, knowing the cruelty and damage that these products caused.

“People still need to eat and so agricultural reorganisation and retraining is required but the Government can help by offering conversion grants for industrial animals farmers to switch to vertical farming, and for intensive fish farmers to switch to seaweed.

"We must be the last generation to industrialise animals.”

You may also be interested in

food

National Food Strategy

Vegan Conservatives was pleased that the Strategy has taken a “farm to fork” approach that covers the whole food value chain and outlines recommendations for creating a food system that is not as harmful to the environment.
deforestation

Environment

We are in the middle of a climate emergency and our eating habits beyond any doubt are one of the biggest contributors for climate change.
boff

Andrew Boff

Founding Member
Andrew Boff has been a member of the Greater London Assembly since 2008, representing all 32 boroughs and the City of London, and served as the Conservative Leader between 2012 and 2015. He has contested the Conservative nomination for the London mayoral elections five times since 2000.
ggp

Graham Godwin-Pearson

Founding Member
Graham Godwin-Pearson has been involved with the Conservative Party since 2005 in various roles and has written for think tanks and the media on environmental issues for most of this time, having visited conservation efforts in Europe, Africa, Asia and Central America. He studied Chemistry at Bath University and has served as a Conservative councillor in rural Somerset.
ali

Alison Knight

Founding Member
Alison Knight, originally from rural Warwickshire, is a former Deputy Leader of Windsor and Maidenhead Council where she also held the sustainability portfolio. She first stood for election for the Conservatives in 1991 and has held various roles within the Party since. Alison is passionate about animal welfare and reducing her and others’ impact on the environment. A huge animal lover, Alison went vegan in 2017. To further reduce her impact on the planet she drives an electric car, and has not bought any new clothes since May 2019.
Conservatives vote against Labour's useless welfare bill

Conservatives vote against Labour's useless welfare bill

Wednesday, 2 July, 2025
In an act of cowardice, Keir Starmer has put Party before country. He cannot make the tough decisions necessary.

Show only

  • Articles
  • National News

Vegan Conservatives

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • About us
  • Get involved
Promoted by Vegan Conservatives on their own behalf.
Copyright 2025 Vegan Conservatives . All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree