DEFRA secretary
David Miliband has been criticised by his opposition
counterpart for promoting the Labour Party in his blog on a
Government website.
"It is entirely unacceptable that a
blog funded by the taxpayer to the tune of £40,000 is being
used to promote party political activity," shadow environment
secretary Peter Ainsworth said.
"The fact that the DEFRA budget is already suffering the
consequences of financial mismanagement makes wasting money on
propaganda even less appropriate."
Mr Miliband’s blog post this morning read: Who says the Labour
party has a history of animosity towards the countryside? I have
been sent a quotation from Chapter 3 of Aneurin Bevan's In
Place of Fear, no less: "Where the countryside is neglected it
always takes its revenge. Unless county and town march together in
reciprocal activity, civilisation will limp on one foot." Next
stop the announcements on the Rural Development Programme.
A DEFRA spokeperson said: "We are aware that concerns
have been voiced regarding a blog entry from the Secretary of State
on the DEFRA website. The entry in question has been removed whilst
we look at these."
