Gove criticises Tory MPs over ‘divisive’ Kosher and Halal meat labelling Bill
Bill, introduced by Esther McVey, the Conservative MP for Tatton, under the Ten Minute Rule on Tuesday was also backed by Alicia Cairns MP
Former Conservative minister Michael Gove has criticised senior MPs for supporting a parliamentary Bill that would introduce compulsory labelling for kosher and halal meat.
The Bill, introduced by Esther McVey, the Conservative MP for Tatton, under the Ten Minute Rule on Tuesday, calls for mandatory labelling to inform consumers if meat has been produced using non-stun slaughter methods.
McVey argued that such labels would enable people to make informed choices based on animal welfare concerns.
“Individuals concerned about animal welfare would want to know if an animal had been stunned prior to slaughter,” McVey told MPs.
Her proposal was backed by other Conservatives, including Alicia Kearns, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
Kearns posted on X: “You have the right to know where your food comes from and how it was produced. I’m calling for clearer labelling in supermarkets, including whether meat has been non-stun slaughtered. It’s not about division, it’s about transparency and making informed choices. Shoppers deserve the facts.”
However, Gove, now editor of The Spectator, warned that the push for new labelling could prove “divisive.”
In a post on X he wrote:”I respect Alicia Kearns but this would prove divisive, I fear…”
The Bill also drew criticism from Jewish Labour MPs and peers. Hendon MP David Pinto-Duschinsky responded on X, accusing McVey of “dog whistles” and arguing that “halal & kosher meat is already labelled.
“The claims she makes about stunning are contested. This isn’t about animal welfare. It’s about dog whistles that brand minorities & their religious practices as cruel.”
He added that he was “shocked that senior Tories are following [Rupert Lowe’s] lead,” referencing a previous debate on the issue.
Labour peer Lord Katz echoed these concerns, highlighting that “the whole point of kosher food, including meat, is that it’s labelled.”
Ten Minute Rule Bills are a parliamentary mechanism for raising issues which do not become law.