Brexit: How Scottish Tories just threw farmers 'under the bus' – Angus Robertson

The coronavirus outbreak is overshadowing some alarming developments about Brexit, writes Angus Robertson

Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, voted against an amendment to the UK Agriculture Bill designed to ensure imported food matches UK farmers’ quality and animal welfare standards. (Picture: Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament)

Anyone for chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated beef? Despite widespread public revulsion and opposition to this getting the green light, the Scottish Tories seem to be up for it. Given the recent opportunity to protect the UK food and farming sector in the House of Commons, Scotland’s six Tory MPs voted against the interests of Scottish agriculture and consumers.

With well-founded concerns that the UK Government is prepared to sell out on higher European food safety standards as part of a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States, the Tories had a chance to stop it and they didn’t.

Scottish Secretary of State Alister ‘Union’ Jack and his five MP colleagues voted against an amendment to the UK Agriculture Bill which aimed to enshrine in law the principle that imported food would need to match UK farmers’ quality and animal welfare standards.

John Fyall, who until recently was the chairman of the National Sheep Association in Scotland, said: “Is there an obvious reason I am missing why the farming constituents were thrown under the bus? Six Scottish MPs backed the government denial of the motion, exposing Scottish farmers to free trade without a level playing field. Years of work on animal and environmental care thrown away!”

The coronavirus crisis has sucked publicity away from many issues, including the ongoing Brexit negotiations which continue to make little progress. That might suit the Brexit zealots who are not really bothered whether there is a free trade agreement with the EU. They are also not bothered whether we protect our food and consumer standards.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Joy Yates

Editorial Director