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Irish politician Chris Hazzard has today announced his move to a vegan diet, after being a vegetarian for two years.

The MP informed his Twitter followers by posting a photo of his ‘last’ lunch involving dairy products.

Chris Hazzard’s tweets

Chris Hazzard says he is moving to an ‘entirely plant-based lifestyle’

The MP for South Down said: “I always liked the idea of eating a veg diet but never thought I had the discipline.

“Then I learnt about the impact of intensified animal agriculture on our planet and a switch went inside my head.

“I’ve felt much healthier so I’d never return to meat based diet.”

Hazzard pointed his followers towards the celebrated documentary Cowspiracy on Netflix as a “good place to start” on the journey to giving up meat.

His announcement was met with a slew of suggestions from vegans on how to cut out dairy products.

Vegan voices in politics

Hazzard is not alone in working in politics with plant-based views.

Bristol-based Labour MP Darren Jones said he is plant-based “for the planet”, as well as Kerry McCarthy who is another MP in Bristol and has been vegan for 25 years.

Chris Williamson, MP for Derby North is a proud vegan too and has even encouraged his constituents to ditch meat.

Emily Baker

Emily Baker

Emily is a journalist based in Devon, where she reports on issues affecting local people from politics to the environment. She has also written features on feminism for Polyester Magazine.