Andy Burnham’s farming minister faints “at the sight of meat” during farm tour
Andy Burnham’s new farming minister fainted "at the sight of meat" after becoming unwell during a tour of a beef freezer.
Stephen Morgan, who has been the MP for Portsmouth South since 2017, had been deployed on a tour of British farms and suppliers since the Prime Minister threw together his top team last month.
But the junior minister became embattled by his new briefing in the Lake District when he was shown a refrigerator storage unit at a food processing plant, packed full of raw meat.
"He’d been shown large chunks of beef as well as some steaks but then he felt faint. He said something like, ‘I don’t feel too well — I need a moment’," one farmer told The Sun.
"It’s not a great look for the farming minister to faint at the sight of meat."
The Labour MP explained that he "felt unwell", blaming the change in temperature between the extreme heat and cold storage and thanking those who helped him.
"Hats off to the brilliant people working in these conditions and temperatures to keep the nation fed," he added.
Last week, the Prime Minister unveiled a £65million support package to farmers as the Government ramps up its response to the driest July on record.
Mr Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting where his team focused on ways to respond to the extreme heat, wildfires and drought.
Plenty of farmers have been battling with the consequences of the drought covering almost 75 per cent of England, as well as the entirety of Wales.
Some have had to harvest crops early, while many others in the community are witnessing lower yields and diminishing quality of produce.
The new package has formed part of a wider effort tackling pressures on farming, water supply and infrastructure caused by the prolonged dry spell.
It is designed to assist farmers with watering crops, feeding livestock where grass has died and continuing environmental agreements without losing payments.
Farmers will also receive support to build on-farm water storage, helping prepare for future dry summers.
Last week, the Prime Minister conceded the Government has a "long way to go to build back trust" from the farming community.
His predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, as well as former Chancellor Rachel Reeves, were wildly unpopular with the farming community over inheritance tax being slapped on their assets.
For almost two years, farmers led mass protests through Whitehall, driving huge tractors down the streets of SW1.
Speaking to reporters at family-run Colwyn farm, Mr Burnham said: "I realise we’ve got a long way to go to build back trust with the farming community across the country.
"I think it’s probably been the hardest summer for British farming in a generation."
World Affairs Correspondent
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