|
EARLIER this month, I was
delighted to visit the third Harleston and Waveney Festival.
ABOVE: Richard Bacon gets his hands on some of Terry Beales' prize-winning sausages at the Harleston and Waveney Festival |
With a name like mine, you may
understand why I was keen on the Festival's theme this year: Food,
Glorious Food. At the opening ceremony, there
was a good crowd to listen to the excellent Norfolk Wherry Band. |
After a speech by Cllr Vera
Alexander, who is chairman of South Norfolk Council, Anglia TV's Helen
McDermott and I launched some balloons to get the festival off to a
flying start.
A varied programme included
dance, music, art and a literary evening with local author Louis de Bernieres. Congratulations must go to festival chairman Judith Osborne
and her hard-working team.
While in Harleston I visited butcher Terry Beale to sample some of his fine, award-winning sausages
which he makes from locally-reared pork. Now, there's a man after my own
heart!
Support our farmers
DID you know that, according to
a recent report, more than half
the pork and bacon eaten in this country is imported?
Almost three quarters of these
imports are from pigs reared to lower animal welfare standards than
those required in Britain. That's bad news for the animals and unfair to
farmers in Norfolk.
"Oh, but I always check the
label to ensure it's British," I hear many of you say. But under current
laws, even if meat is reared abroad it can still be labelled 'product of
Britain' if it is processed or packaged here. My food labelling Bill would
make such tricks illegal and give our farmers a fair chance. With
cross-party support, the Bill is due for its second reading in the July.
I'll keep you posted. In self defence SHOULD homeowners run the risk of being the wrong side of
the law if they try to defend themselves against intruders?
The area policed from Diss is
270 square miles -nearly half the size of greater London -so if, God
forbid, a burglar should turn up, help will not arrive straightaway.
With this in mind, I spoke out
in the House of Commons recently in support of a Bill which seeks to.
protect the right of homeowners to defend their families and property
from criminals. It's time to stop treating burglars like victims.
I was disappointed that the
backbench Bill was talked out by the Home Office minister, Fiona
Mactaggart. However, I shall continue to support new moves to change the
law.
▪ Need to see your MP? You can
make an appointment to see Richard by calling 01379
643728.
|
