Farming Minister 'feels faint' in Lake District meat processing plant

Stephen Morgan felt ill when stepping into a food processing plant’s meat storage facility in the Lake District.

The new Farming Minister had to take “a moment” while visiting a refrigerated storage unit full of beef as he felt faint, reports have suggested.

Stephen Morgan has been touring farms and suppliers since his appointment in July, however he felt ill when stepping into a food processing plant’s meat storage facility in the Lake District.

One local farmer told The Sun: “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.’ It’s not a great look for the farming minister to faint at the sight of meat.”

The Portsmouth South MP said: “I felt unwell moving between the extreme heat and cold storage, and I’m grateful to all the staff at Lake District Farmers.

“Hats off to the brilliant people working in these conditions and temperatures to keep the nation fed.”

Last week, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham – who appointed Mr Morgan as Farming Minister – announced an additional £65m of support for farmers following the wildfires.

Of this, £50m will be pumped into the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which funds environmental schemes run by farmers.