Labour’s farming minister faints at sight of meat in freezer
Labour farming minister Stephen Morgan collapsed in a freezer during a Lake District food facility tour, raising questions about ministerial appointments amid tensions over inheritance taxes.
Stephen Morgan, who has represented Portsmouth South since 2017, was visiting a food processing facility when he became unwell in the cold storage area, according to Susanna Siddell writing in GB News. The incident occurred as the junior minister conducted outreach to British farms and suppliers following his recent appointment to the agriculture brief.
A farmer present during the visit told reporters that Morgan had been shown large cuts of beef and steaks when he suddenly felt faint. It’s not a great look for the farming minister to faint at the sight of meat, the farmer observed.
The Labour MP attributed his collapse to the rapid temperature change between the plant’s extreme heat and frigerated storage areas rather than the meat itself. He expressed gratitude to staff at Lake District Farmers who assisted him during the episode.
Morgan defended his agricultural credentials by noting he has traveled extensively across Britain since taking office, visiting farms from Cornwall to Scotland to observe food production processes firsthand. He praised workers who endure challenging temperature conditions to maintain the nation’s food supply.
The episode has drawn attention to Labour’s ministerial selections for key portfolios affecting rural communities, coming amid ongoing tensions between the government and farming sectors over inheritance tax changes affecting agricultural estates.
With information from GB News