Baron Münchhausen flying with ducks
Letter published in the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard on the 1 March 2018.
It has been revealed that our newly knighted MP was one of six Conservative politicians who have been hosted, apparently for the second year running, to a “freebie” by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation which says it aims to promote a “strong and unified voice for shooting”.
On December 15th last year, a day when Parliament was in session, he and other Tories were at Catton Hall estate in South Derbyshire and entered an £825.45 payment Into the Parliamentary register of Interests in respect of this.
Surely, he should have either been in the House of Commons or here in our Constituency looking after constituents’ interests on that day?
At a time when the Tories are trying to suggest that they have animal welfare at heart this gives the real picture-not only do they not have animal welfare at heart but neither do they appear to have the interests of the constituents at heart.
In contrast Labour has recently proposed wide ranging proposals to improve animal welfare, look after domestic pets and give more rights In their owners, strengthen regulations regarding factory farming and slaughterhouses. protect wild animal plus those used for so-called “sport” and research. Issues which would all be overseen by an Animal Welfare Commissioner.
Any reader can have their say on our consultation at labour.org.uk/issues/animal-welfare-plan/
In the meantime, perhaps our part-time MP can explain to us why he thinks it is permissible to take a day off from his job looking after us to enjoy a shooting trip.
Andy Woolley
Cotswolds Labour Party
Image sources, attribution and licences
Baron Münchhausen flying with ducks: Wikimedia Public Domain