I’ve campaigned on climate, nature and animal welfare issues throughout my time in Parliament.

I was Climate Minister in the Labour Government from July 2024 to September 2025 and have also been shadow Environment Secretary. I’ve served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee, and on bill committees for the Agriculture Act and the Environment Act. I chaired the All-Party Group on Agroecology for Sustainable Food and Farming for a decade or so.

At the heart of much of what I’ve done is campaigning for a more equitable food system, and against the horrors of industrialised, intensive farming. For example, I pressed amendments to prevent lower food standards post-Brexit (e.g. imports of chlorinated chicken and hormone-pumped beef) and have highlighted the dangers of the routine overuse of antibiotics. I work closely with groups like Compassion in World Farming.

As far as I know, I was the first vegan MP, although there are a few more of us now. I was the first MP to make the case for veganism (on ethical, environmental and health grounds) in Parliament and the first to hold a debate on the environmental impact of livestock farming. I also led this debate on human rights abuses and modern slavery in our food supply chains, and continue to work with the excellent Environmental Justice Foundation on this issue.

I’ve also introduced two Food Waste Bills, working with charities like Fareshare, Food Cycle and Foodrise, to highlight how a third of the food we produce doesn’t get eaten, at a huge environmental and social cost. See my Food Waste Bill from 2012 and later my Food Waste (Reduction) Bill from 2016 on Hansard or go here for more.

Locally, one of the things I am most proud of is helping to set up Feeding Bristol, which, as well as its hugely successful holiday hunger scheme, promotes access to healthy, sustainable, affordable food in our city, challenging inequality in our food systems.

Other issues I’m currently working on include campaigning to stamp out deforestation in our food supply chains; protecting our oceans and a ban on bottom-trawling; and improving School Food Standards.