Send Bill back to the Commons

getting minsters to drop everything to put out tweets of support for Cummings rather than sort out testing or getting nurses proper PPE. This is serious. People will rightfully say “is there one rule for the people and another law for our Tory rulers at Westminster?”

Scotland recently rejected Tory rule.

Yet we are still dominated by people who think they are so special that they just make the rules for lesser people.

K Heath. Cortachy, Kirriemuir. online shopping possibly for a minimum wage, with no guarantee of a lifetime job or pension.

Let’s not forget these workers when we next give our thanks in the weekly clap next week.

Willie Robertson. Grainan, Lynton, Stanley.

Sir, – A fortnight ago MPs debated the new Agricultural Bill, the first since 1947, which will be the foundation of UK food and farming policy post Brexit.

An amendment was, shamefully, defeated. The new Clause 2 proposed had wide support from farming unions, landowners and tenants bodies, all major animal welfare and environmental organisations.

Alas, many Scottish Conservative MPs who represent rural constituents who rely heavily on farming were among those who voted down the amendment which would have enshrined in law the principle that imported food producers must match the quality and animal welfare standards of UK farmers’ production.

That, basically, is the position under EU law at the moment.

Those MPs opposing the motion claim that accepting the amendment would make it impossible to sign a trade deal with the US or anywhere else and that under World Trade Organisation rules we can apply standards to the quality and health of the product but we cannot regulate on another country’s method of production methods, so long as the product itself meets UK standards.

This will, however, be dependent on each trade deal, whereas the amendment would have ensured that those seeking to enter the lucrative UK markets for food and animal products are clear that they must meet standards which are acceptable in the UK.

The Agricultural Bill will now pass to the House of Lords who should send it back to the Commons to rectify this grave error.

John Dorward. 89 Brechin Road, Arbroath.