One of the most revolting and distracting aspects of this government is the way they conceal their intentions behind manipulative language.

As Stephen Glenn (fellow LD Blogger) notices, a ‘Food Security Report‘ has been published by the Government. The report “predicts” climate change, diseases and other yaa boo scaries will make meat so expensive that even the UK will find itself back in the days when meat was a luxury, not something to be taken for granted. Vegetarian Britain? Something tells me this report isn’t meant to be notification of a blessed, utopian cow, pig, sheep and chicken free future of tofu and hummus. It’s meant to inspire fear.

Presumably the intended reaction is that the Government should do more to improve the security of the food supply. “Well”, will come the reply. “There is something we can do…. if you insist….”

That ’something’ is planning, of course. Announcing a ‘5 Year Plan for Agriculture’ a little bit Stalinist for the British tastes, so they do it this way around instead. Create a panic. Offer a solution. Create a panic. Offer a solution… haven’t we been here before? Terrorists! (ID Cards!) Criminals! (ID Cards!) Foreigners! (ID Cards!)

The most certain path to national vegetarianism (deliberately or otherwise) and food shortages isn’t through Free Trade. It’s through planning – that’s what the lesson of history has shown repeatedly - yet here we are, once again, being manipulated into demanding something the Government’s almost certainly going to do anyway – this time in the name of ‘food security.’

Food Security. Sheesh. Are you scared yet? Can’t you feel that nagging doubt growing in your mind? Is my food secure? Can I really take the chance that it’s not? Oh, no, what’s the Tory policy on Food Security? What’s our policy! OH NO! We’re all doomed!

I refuse! Y’hear me? I won’t have it!