the times | Monday April 4 2022 2GM 3
News
Meat producers are using similar tac-
tics to the fossil fuel and tobacco indus-
try to underplay the health and envi-
ronmental damage of their products, a
report by scientists has claimed.
The paper by a team from the
London School of Hygiene and Tropi-
cal Medicine said that the farmers used
“a technique that has been employed by
the tobacco, fossil fuel and alcohol
industries” by fostering “uncertainty
about scientific consensus”.
Its conclusions were vigorously op-
posed by those in the meat industry.
Scientists argue that cattle farming
accounts for a significant proportion of
CO 2 put into the atmosphere — with
livestock overall accounting for about
more than £100,000 as part of an agree-
ment with a Russian businessman in
2017 and did not disclose it in the regis-
ter of members’ interests.
The reports of sexual harassment
come days after Charlie Elphicke, a
former MP convicted of sexual assault,
dropped his years-long claim against
The Sunday Times for revealing that he
had been accused of rape.
The two former aides have referredtheir allegations against Warburton to
the Independent Complaints and
Grievance Scheme (ICGS), set up in
2019 in response to previous scandals.
One said she feared for others’ safety
during what could have been a secret
investigation lasting many months.
Neither felt comfortable addressing
Warburton’s conduct internally as his
wife was overseeing HR matters.
She is standing by Warburton, herbrother, Jonathan Baker-Bates, told the
Daily Mail: “She seems to be surprised
by it as much as anyone else,” he said.
“Her line is as his: he’s not done any-
thing wrong and these things have ex-
planations.”
One complainant is on indefinite sick
leave. The other has been moved to the
office of a female MP. The third woman
said she did not go to the police as War-
burton was a powerful man and sheDavid Warburton snorted “line after line” of cocaine, according to one of his accusers, and is said to have climbed naked
into bed with her, later sending a message promising not to take his clothes off again. Above right: with his wife, HarrietMeat farmers likened to Big Tobacco
15 per cent of greenhouse gas emis-
sions. There is also evidence that eating
red and processed meat raises the risk
of illnesses such as colorectal cancer.
The study, published in the peer-
reviewed journal Food Policy, looked at
messages put out by those in the meat
industry on these topics. The research-
ers argue that by cherry picking and
misrepresenting evidence the industry
bodies presented a picture that differed
from the established consensus.
“Our findings suggest that the meat
industry may be using various frames
that counteract this narrative,” Kath-
ryn Clare, a lead author, said. “While we
can’t say whether this is having a direct
impact on consumer behaviour or
policy, it is clear that the meat industry
is a powerful voice and the input oforganisations representing the sector
on issues relating to meat consumption
should be of serious concern.”
The National Farmers’ Union
(NFU), one of the organisations scruti-
nised in the report, rejected its findings.
“It is reckless and unjustified for this
study to compare the UK livestock sec-
tor with commodities such as tobacco
and fossil fuels, where there is a very
strong scientific consensus about harm
to human health and the environment,”
Tom Bradshaw, NFU deputy president,
told The Daily Telegraph.
“Arguments about diet and food pro-
duction are much more nuanced, com-
plex and widely debated among scien-
tists. When customers purchase British
red meat products, they are buying sus-
tainable, local food.”Tom Whipple Science Editor
Maitlis backing Myrie for
the lead role at Newsnight
Jake Kanter Media CorrespondentEmily Maitlis has backed Clive Myrie to
fill her seat as Newsnight’s lead present-
er but there is speculation that he is being
groomed for a more prominent role.
Maitlis, 51, has not presented News-
night this year and announced her de-
parture from the BBC in February. She
will present a new daily podcast with
Jon Sopel, formerly the BBC’s North
America editor, for Global, the radio
group behind LBC and Classic FM.
She told Radio Times that Myrie
would be an excellent choice to succeed
her as host of the BBC2 current affairs
programme. “Clive’s terrific,” Maitlissaid. “He’s done so well. And I’m sure
the team would give him a really, really
warm welcome because they are the
best in the business. And it’s the loveli-
est [of] gangs, loveliest group of people.
So I hope for his sake he gets it, too.”
The Times reported in February that
Myrie, 57, was being considered for
Newsnight. He took over as host of Mas-
termind last year and has impressed
BBC bosses during a spell reporting
from Ukraine, where he helped to cover
the Russian invasion.
Some sources are sceptical, however,
of Myrie’s appetite to present News-
night, believing his profile has out-
grown the show.Conservative whips were told at
least a fortnight ago that one of the
party’s MPs was facing allegations
of sexual assault and cocaine
abuse but did not suspend him
until yesterday.
David Warburton, 56, the MP
for Somerton & Frome, is being
investigated by parliamentary
officials after two women who
worked in his office made formal
complaints.
The Times has been told that
whips were informed of the allega-
tions by another staff member
weeks ago. They spoke to the alleged
victims and referred them to the Inde-
pendent Complaints and Grievance
Scheme.
Separately an MP is said to have
raised concerns about a “culture of
drinking” and a “pattern of behaviour”
towards female staff. They raised con-
cerns about Warburton’s “untoward
behaviour” with whips several weeks
ago and urged them to “keep an eye on
him”.
The Conservative Party suspended
the whip from Warburton after The
Sunday Times disclosed details of the
allegations yesterday. One of the
women reported that the MP, a married
father of two, coerced her into going to
his taxpayer-funded flat near parlia-
ment, where he kissed and groped her.
She said he had touched her bottom
and thigh on separate occasions.
The second complainant said he had
caressed her and barred her from leav-
ing the flat, pushing her towards his
bedroom.
A third woman, who does not work in
Westminster but met Warburton
through politics, said he insisted on vis-
iting her home while she was drunk,
asked her to order cocaine on his behalf
and snorted “line after line after line”.
She tried to make him leave but he
allegedly stripped, got in her bed and
groped her. He later sent texts saying
“Promise I won’t remove all my clothes
again” and that he hoped to procure
cocaine as he was not needed in parlia-
ment that day.
Warburton’s wife, Harriet, who
works in his office and oversees HR
matters, disclosed yesterday that he
had been admitted to a psychiatric hos-
pital with “severe shock and stress”. He
has been advised to stay away from par-
liament while inquiries continue.
Separately, Warburton borrowed
Tory whips were warned weeks ago
about MP in sex-and-drugs scandal
Steven Swinford Political Editor
dwould not have known where to start.
She has evidence that she had told him
she did not wish to visit his property or
have sex with him.
Warburton said: “I have enormous
amounts of defence, but unfortunately
the way that things work means that
doesn’t come out first. I have heard
nothing whatsoever from the Inde-
pendent Complaints and Grievance
Scheme. I’m sorry, I can’t comment any
further.”
He refused to answer questions
about a loan from Roman Joukovski, 53,
a Russian-born businessman based in
north London. One of Joukovski’s com-
panies was forced into administration
last year after the Financial Conduct
Authority (FCA) ruled it had “dishon-
estly or recklessly provided misleading
information” to clients. The company
had specialised in helping foreign citi-
zens, including oligarchs, structure
their wealth and obtain Tier 1 “golden”
visas — a scheme the government sus-
pended this year.
According to leaked emails, at the
time Warburton received the loan in
2017, he knew the FCA had refused to
grant Joukovski “fit and proper person”
status. Warburton later took Jouvkoski
into the Palace of Westminster and or-
ganised formal meetings, including one
with Jacob Rees-Mogg, then a back-
bencher.
A friend of Joukovski insisted there
was no quid pro quo or expectation of
favours when he issued the loan. If the
loan was a purely personal matter War-
burton will not have had to declare it.
I’m not impressed by ‘fun’ way to lose
weight, Kevin Maher, Times