She notes the prediction Theresa May would easily defeat Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 'proved to be a million miles away from the actual result'
October 2, 2019 11:52
Environment Secretary Theresa Villers has warned that, while she “fully understands” the Jewish community's fears of a Jeremy Corbyn-led government, “no one can predict or be certain” about any forthcoming election.
Speaking to the JC at this week’s Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the Chipping Barnet MP said she believes there is a “good chance” Boris Johnson will still be be Prime Minister after Britain next goes to the polls.
But Ms Villiers pointed to predictions that Theresa May would easily triumph over Mr Corbyn in 2017 which "proved to be a million miles away from the actual result."
During the Tory Conference there was an overwhelming acceptance by most of those in attendance that the UK could be faced with another election as soon as next month.
With a small majority of just more 300 to defend in her constituency, the Secretary of State for Defra — the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – revealed she had already been “campaigning hard” locally to retain her seat.
“I fully understand the concern with the Jewish community about how damaging a government led by Jeremy Corbyn would be,” she insisted.
“I think it’s is truly shocking and unacceptable that he has let anti-Jewish racism invade and pervade within the Labour Party.
“It is disgraceful he has not dealt with it and rooted it out of his party. We will take no chances and fight as hard as we can, be it in north London and across the rest of the country.”
Ms Villiers said her own party would “be strongly holding Labour to account on their record” and “we will have a good offer to the people of the United Kingdom and I think we have a good chance of winning a general election.
"There are all sorts ways a Corbyn government would crash the economy and leave us all paying higher interest rates, higher taxes and seeing lost jobs."
Speaking ahead of Tuesday evening’s Conservative Friends of Israel reception, which she attended as a vice-chair, Ms Villiers said she was able to provide rather more assurance over the impact of Brexit, in whatever form it takes, on the kosher meat industry and pricing.
Ms Villiers, who replaced Michael Gove in the role in July under Mr Johnson's leadership, said: “In terms of meat prices generally - first of all we are working energetically for a deal.
"If we got a deal there would be a transitionary period - so there would be no immediate changes to tariffs.
"If we were to leave on WTO [World Trade Organisation] terms, the tariff schedule published under Mrs May, which may or may not be exactly what we go for but I would expect it to be... our version of it would be broadly in line with that and have much in common.
"We would be working hard to ensure we did not see cost of living hikes for either the Jewish community or the broader community.
"The overall cost of food is partly driven by the cost of sterling.
"'But we have sought to protect the interest of the consumer in order to avoid unnecessary price rises."
The minister also reaffirmed government's continued “long-standing commitment to supporting religious freedom in this country.”
"This means supporting the right of the Jewish community to eat kosher meat at reasonable prices,” said Ms Villiers who confirmed she had rejected proposed changes to the labelling of kosher food .
Animal rights campaigners had argued that kosher meat should be labelled as such to inform consumers of the method of slaughter involved - but communal leaders have long argued that such labelling should be applied to all methods of slaughter.
Ms Villers, who has been the Chipping Barnet MP since 2005, stressed that “preparations for Brexit” had not totally dominated her agenda over recent months.
She spoke enthusiastically about a forthcoming bill which will be presented to parliament around radical new programmes on conservation and climate change.
She admitted there had been “one or two distracting stories in the media” over the past week, with Ms Villiers pointedly being asked to defend the Prime Minister over claims he had behaved inappropriately towards a female journalist in 1999.
But she insisted: "My focus has been on animal welfare and environmental matters.
“There's been a lot of good discussion on that and a real determination for the Conservatives to seize that agenda and put forward radical programmes on conservation and addressing climate change. I've found that uplifting.”
As a former Minister of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Villiers has always found time to stress her continued support and admiration for the state of Israel.
“I suppose it stems from growing up in North London,” she reasons. “The Jewish community has always been such an important part of the culture here, in terms of my friendships and my family ties with the community.”
She revealed she began to take a genuine interest in Israel after being elected as a MEP in 1999. “I was really inspired by Israel,” she added.
“Created in the most adverse conditions possible and yet a hugely successful country. Hugely successful despite being surrounded for so many years by countries who had the declared intention to destroy it.
“Obviously Israel now has much better relationships with many of neighbours but it still faces huge challenges.
“But I feel we have a duty to support the Middle East's only real functioning democracy and its right to defend its own citizens from terrorist attack.”
