Jamie’s threat to go ‘ninja’ on ministers over sugar tax
JAMIE OLIVER has indicated he will campaign to kick the Conservatives out of office if they fail to come up with a bold strategy on child obesity, as he threatened a more aggressive campaign for a sugar tax.
The television chef said he would work to get ministers “out of power as soon as possible” if their proposals – expected within weeks – fail to live up to expectations.
Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, said a sugar tax remained on the table and pledged to oversee a “game-changing” plan for tackling obesity.
The comments intensify pressure on the Government ahead of the longawaited publication of its children’s obesity strategy, due later this month.
David Cameron has abandoned his initial opposition to a sugar tax amid pressure from health campaigners but indicated last month he is not yet convinced of its merits.
Oliver, one of Britain’s most best known television chefs, has discussed healthy eating with Mr Cameron since the last election and has publicly called for a sugar tax. Speaking on BBC One’s
The Andrew Marr Show, he appealed to the Prime Minister “as a parent, not a politician” and urged him to “be brave and be bold” in his proposals.
When asked what he would do if the strategy proved a “whimper” rather than a “bang”, Oliver said: “I will be really, really, really upset, because this is our country, this is environmental. I don’t know what I’ll do, but I will have to regather my thoughts.
He added: “I think we’ll have to just change our strategy, get more ninja, go a bit more underground and a little bit less nice.
“I think we need to sort of try and get them out of power as soon as possible because child health has to be central to a healthy prosperous economy. It doesn’t matter what government it is, it doesn’t matter. I don’t think it will be pretty.”
Mr Hunt, who appeared on the same programme, agreed that the strategy for tackling obesity needed to be a “gamechanging moment” and “robust”.
Asked whether the Government would back a sugar tax, Mr Hunt said: “We are going to be announcing in due course, we are working up the details.
“David Cameron has said if it isn’t a sugar tax it needs to be something that is equally robust, but he hasn’t taken a sugar tax off the table.”