Biggest change in farming policy in a generation is passed by MPs

MPS DEFEATED a Tory-led attempt to add further guarantees to post-Brexit food imports standards as the biggest change in farming policy for a generation passed through the House of Commons.

The Agriculture Bill cleared its final stage in the House of Commons yesterday, with 360 MPs voting for it and 211 against.

A Labour amendment attempted to force the Government to produce an emergency food plan in light of the coronavirus, however this was defeated by 352 votes to 221. And Tory MP Neil Parish, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, also called for food imports to match the UK’s high standards in order to protect farmers and consumers.

His amendment was defeated by 277 to 328, but Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing said some members had made a “mistake” when voting but she was satisfied the result would not have been affected.

One of those who seemed to have voted for the amendment in error was Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Conservative MP Simon Hoare said without this change to the

Bill “food imports to this country would be cheap for no other reason bar the fact that they were raised to lower standards”.

Mr Parish said US food imported to the UK “cannot undercut our present production methods” and animal welfare.

While Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Luke Pollard told the Commons that not including food standards in the Agriculture Bill could lead to a “race to the bottom”.

He said: “The political handcuffs placed on the Environment Secretary and his ministers to tie them to oppose these reasonable, sensible, necessary and essential amendments betray the bigger political agenda at play here.” However Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Victoria Prentis said that all EU import standards will be converted into domestic law by the end of the transition period.

She told the Commons: “I’d like to reassure colleagues that all food coming into this country will

Withdrawal Act will convert EU standards into domestic law.

Minister Victoria Prentis responds to amendments about food standards. be required to meet existing import requirements.

“At the end of the transition period, the Withdrawal Act will convert all EU standards into domestic law.”

Ms Prentis said the amendments tabled by Mr Hoare and Mr Parish could have “unintended consequences”.

She told MPs: “While we all want to support British farmers, if passed, these well-meaning amendments would have unintended consequences.

“The supply of food would be significantly disrupted if goods that meet our current import standards were to be blocked.”

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy

said: “I very much support, as other members do, the broad thrust of this Bill, which has been much improved over time.”

But he added: “The laudable aims of this bill will come to nothing if the Government doesn’t secure fair terms of trade for UK producers.”

Keighley MP Robbie Moore said the Bill was a “once in a generational opportunity to shape our farming sector for the better”.

He said the Prime Minister had personally reassured him food standards would remain high in any future arrangements.

The Bill will now progress to the House of Lords.