Tell your MP to put our farmers first – The Yorkshire Post says

THIS newspaper makes no apology for, again, raising concerns about the threat to farming and food standards as the Agricultural Bill passes through Parliament.
By YP Comment
Published 9th Oct 2020, 05:41 BST
A recent Save British Farming protest in Northallerton.A recent Save British Farming protest in Northallerton.
A recent Save British Farming protest in Northallerton.

This was self-evident when International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said that a “world-leading scrutiny process” will be in place for MPs to debate the UK’s future trade deals. It was an even more unfortunate form of words when set in the context of “world-beating” NHS apps and the Government’s propensity for over-promising.

Ms Truss was trying to appease those farmers who have started to take to the streets 20 years after the nationwide fuel protests, and backbenchers, like York Outer’s Julian Sturdy, who are steeped in farming and who have concluded that the proposed Trade and Agriculture Commission has woefully inadequate scrutiny powers.

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But it is more fundamental than that as the Leeds-raised politican tells global leaders that consumers will be able to choose between meat and food produced in the UK to the strictest standards in the world or cut-price imports which would fail to meet existing protocols.

The Government is being urged to do more to protect farm standards.The Government is being urged to do more to protect farm standards.
The Government is being urged to do more to protect farm standards.

For many families, it does come down to cost – and they will have no choice other than to go for the cheapest option. Yes, it is a small measure of progress that trade deals will be scrutinised – Brexit was, after all, supposed to enhance the role of Parliament – but the issue of food standards must remain non-negotiable.

As such, readers should lobby their MPs before next week’s crucial votes in the Commons – the future of Yorkshire’s family farms depends on the Government rethinking its approach before it is too late.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

Related topics:Liz TrussYorkshire PostParliamentGovernmentMPsNHSBrexit

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