Reviews

A Chip off the Blair Block

Sunday Times
7 January 2007

Fish and chip shops are dangerous places for Politian’s, as Labour spin doctors know. Peter Mandelson’s image never recovered after he mistook mushy peas for guacamole at his local chippie in Hartlepool: and in these health conscious times, it wouldn’t do for an ambitious young cabinet minister to be seen tucking into such fatty fare with too much alacrity.

So it’s a surprise to find David Miliband, the environment secretary, carefree when he arrives for the reopening of Colmans of South Shields, and award winning fish and chip shop in his constituency.

Indeed Miliband practically skipping with enthusiasm as staff prepare the red ribbon, and enthusiastically accepts a giant platter. But then this is a chippie with a difference. As proud notices on each table declare, here they use only wild fish from sustainable fishing grounds, the food is fried in additive free vegetable oil that’s low in Trans fats, and leftover oil from the deep fat fryers is collected and made into Bio fuel. Beat that.

“The food in here is fantastic, and I am having full lashings,” says Miliband munching on a chip “You’ve got to try the fish. It’s so good.”