A strong food sector must withstand Brexit and coronavirus twin threats

THE ongoing coronavirus disruption – and public anxiety over supermarket food stocks – throws an important new light on the recent debate about the protection of British food production from low-quality imports under post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The current situation demonstrates the value of maintaining a strong UK food and farming sector, so that our national food security does not depend on long international supply chains, which can 
clearly prove fragile at times like these. These insights must inform future policy as we go forward from the present emergency.

From the farmers and food processors still labouring as designated ‘key workers’, to the many local butchers, bakers and brewers setting up special deliveries for customers in their neighbourhoods who are having to stay home, in Yorkshire and elsewhere we are seeing the value of small-scale and regional supply chains that can be relied on for food and drink when all else fails.

I, and many other MPs, have already been pressing the Government for the strongest possible assurances that Britain’s world-leading animal welfare and environmental food standards will not be eroded by a wave of cheap imports, with the situation created by the virus outbreak only strengthening these arguments.

I hope the Government will learn this lesson, and I will continue to push on this.

From: Susan Waterhouse, Hove Edge, Brighouse.

I HAVE never been a fan of large supermarkets and pictures of the queues there have taken my breath away.

On Wednesday morning I was in Halifax to do my shopping. M&S was virtually empty but the shelves groaned with fresh food.

The local fishmonger was really not busy at all and had a nice selection. The Borough Market was very quiet even though the meat and greengrocery had plenty of choice. Well done Halifax.

From: Edward Grainger, Botany Way, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

HOWEVER this horrendous pandemic ends, presumably with thousands of deaths across the world, one thing is for sure – politicians from all parties have the opportunity to create a new order in Britain.

This is a chance to reward those in our society who, each day, perform the most for the common good and to put an end to the culture of celebrity status offered to us by people of little talent who have commanded huge rewards, while our essential workers from doctors, nurses, teachers and workers in our various public services have worked long hours and unsocial hours for little reward.

We have the opportunity to sweep away much of the capitalist society and, with it, executive pay fuelled by corporate greed, manifested in particular through the financial and banking systems that reek of greed.

From: Godfrey Lomas, Otley Road, Eldwick, Bingley.

IF Britain learns nothing from the coronavirus event, I hope that this will finally bring an end to that appalling British habit where someone with a dripping cold still puts on a brave face and struggles to get to work. As we now know, in the process they gift their disease to everyone in the workplace, plus all the poor bystanders on public transport.

From: Peter Rickaby, Selby.

I USED to have a lot of respect for Tim Martin, founder of Wetherspoons. Not any longer. By refusing to pay staff wages, he shows himself to be another ‘fat cat’ millionaire whose wealth has been accrued through public support, together with excellent staff. Now, in their time of need, he mockingly suggests they go and work for Tesco. Disgraceful!

From: Paul Muller, Woodthorpe Gardens, Sandal, Wakefield.

WHY did England not learn from China where coronavirus was first identified and sequenced? They built a massive ward within two weeks. They developed a test for the virus and were able to get the result within a day. In London, a large new building has only now been found for patients with coronavirus. This is probably too late because we have too few ventilators.

From: Evan Williams, Pope Lane, Penwortham, Preston.

BORIS Johnson’s draconian powers imposed in peacetime Britain is an affront to civil liberties and a gross violation of the civil rights of the over-70s.

Turning Britain into a police and army state will cause great resentment and unrest. The wavering relationship with citizens will reach rock bottom. Boris Johnson’s Lord Kitchener impersonation is more like a Carry On film, only it isn’t funny.

From David Collins, Scissett.

I AM coming to the conclusion that panic buyers are the same people whose dog mess is left on the pavement, who throw litter out of cars, hog the middle lane, answer their phones loudly on trains, throw cigarette ends on the floor and fly tip. Could it be that there is a sub-species of human being who lack the mental capacity to behave in a reasonable manner? Good grief! I think social isolation is getting to me.

From: JM Corby Hall, Pannal, Harrogate.

DOES any one remember Brexit? Now the buzzword is coronavirus. Brexit seemed important at the time.