Be informed

Today I wrote to my new MP, Sally-Ann Hart, for the first time. The Conservative Party manifesto for the 2019 election stated:

“In all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.”

And yet, the Government is pushing a new agriculture bill through the parliament that offers no such commitment. In order to rectify that, one of her Conservative Party colleagues, Neil Parish, proposed an amendment to the bill that would honour that manifesto commitment. The amendment tabled on 13 May 2020 was defeated (22 Conservatives did vote for it, but Sally-Ann Hart was not one of them).

The reason is clear. There is no hope of a trade deal with the USA if existing standards are maintained. So, Conservative MPs are prepared to sacrifice the livelihoods of farmers (who will not be able to compete against US farmers, especially those on marginal land), environmental targets, including greenhouse gas emissions and the health of their constituents who will finally be able to enjoy chlorinated chicken, hormone-fed beef and pork, and eggs produced in battery cages.

Full story here and farmers’ reaction here including a list of the 22 Conservatives who voted for the amendment.