Sarah Dyke supported calls to reduce meat consumption. Credit: Twitter
The Liberal Democrat candidate is being promoted as a farmer's daughter who Rural Awareness has been attacked for advocating veganism and meeting with radical environmentalists.
Sarah Dyke was chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the seat in Somerset and Frome after her Conservative MP was removed from office for sexual harassment and cocaine. accusations.
David Warburton instigated a by-election when he resigned as MP on 17 June.
He was elected a Conservative but became an independent after losing his Conservative whip last year to allegations of sexual harassment.
He apologized for using cocaine but denied sexual harassment .
Ms. The Dyke Lib Dem web page says: “Sarah lives in the constituency and comes from a Somerset farming family with a history of over 250 years.”
' Credit: Instagram
But in the run-up to the July 20 election, claims surfaced that Ms Dyke is a supporter of radical direct-action environmental groups like Extinction Rebellion and backed calls to reduce meat consumption and switch to a plant-based diet.
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Opponents say this runs counter to her self-promotion as a candidate sympathetic to farmers and rural communities.
Now the Tories are calling her a “tough eco-moon” in an attempt to undermine her support.
The Conservatives have released a “dossier materials that they say expose Ms Dyke as an extreme environmentalist.
It points out that the 51-year-old held meetings with Extinction Rebellion in 2019 to develop South Somerset Council. environmental protection strategy.
In March 2021, Ms. Dyke also attended the Youth Environment Summit in Somerset, which was attended by Extinction Rebellion campaigners Kathy Hodgetts and Caroline Hickman.
“A common nuisance”
She took part in the road blockade and occupations, and describes herself as what her parents would call “everybody's nuisance.”
Ms Hickman was pictured at the Extinction Rebellion event in London, which conservatives say was “aimed at promoting climate extremism among young children.”
Her opponents also claim her online activism is indicative of that she is at odds with the needs and interests of ordinary rural voters.
The dossier indicates that her Internet history shows that she previously “liked” a number of Facebook pages for radical climate groups such as Extinction Rebellion Somerset, Extinction Rebellion Bruton, Greenpeace, Green New Deal Rising, Green Alliance and Feminist Anarchist.
The dossier also alleges that Ms. Dyke “actively promoted veganism” as a way to help “reduce emissions from animal husbandry.”
The dossier claims that the council's environmental strategy, which was developed and led by Ms. Goal Dyke is promoting a plant-based diet and persuading residents to give up pork and beef.
Conservatives point out that Ms Dyke was the holder of the environmental portfolio of South Somerset Council, whose web page states that “meat consumption is one of the biggest contributors to deforestation and biodiversity.”
Ms Dyke took part in the protests' road blocking. Photo: Facebook
They argue that this goes against the economic interests of the rural communities of Somerset and Frome, which are heavily dependent on animal husbandry.
They note that Ms. Dyke also liked the radical “Feed Our Future” Facebook campaign, which encourages councils and schools to serve only vegan meals.
In one of her monthly newsletters, Ms. Dyke wrote about World Vegan Day that “Even if you're not a vegan, cutting back on meat and replacing some days with vegan or vegetarian food helps.”
Launching her campaign last week, Ms Dyke, who is also the director of furniture retailer Vintage Ghetto, said: “Our hard-working farmers have been hit hard by a failed trade deal. I come from a farming family myself and I understand the dynamics involved and hope to stand up for them.”
“Farmer support cut”
The party also notes that not only the South Somerset District Council Environmental Strategy has been adopted by the Conservatives, but Rebecca Poe, Conservative MP for Taunton Dean, also met Extinction Rebellion at the same event Ms. Dyke attended.
The Liberal Democrat spokesman said: attention from their terrible history of cutting back farmers' support and undermining them through failed trade deals.
“Sarah Dyke is proud to be from a local farming family and has used her role on the council to encourage people to buy high-quality local meat.” production.
“As the next MP for Somerton and Frome, she will relentlessly beat the drum for local farmers who have been out of the vote for far too long.”
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