Despite the best efforts of the Lords, despite the emails and tractor protests and the efforts of the campaign to Save British Farming, only one of our region’s Conservative MPs had the guts to stand up for farmers and try to guarantee them a level playing field in any trade deals. ONE. Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset.
Labour MPs Ben Bradshaw and Luke Pollard voted in favour of the amendment. Luke Pollard (Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) said:
“We know that the international trade secretary and the environment secretary have not always agreed over food standards and the truth is I that don’t trust the Department of International Trade not to break any promises once this Bill been passed.”
James Heappey and Rebecca Powe have no vote recorded.
Every other Conservative MP in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, including Neil Parish, who had appeared to be something of a champion for the cause, voted against enshrining high production and welfare standards in law. Where is the representation of constituents’ interests?
As for the fig leaf of a commission – read this to understand why that isn’t enough and why amendment 16b was needed.
We will follow up on this story in due course.
