The London Economic reports that, under cover of the Coronavirus pandemic, protections of food safety and environmental standards have evaporated in the third reading of the UK’s Agriculture Bill.
It says headlines over the UK government’s handling of the crisis have meant this major public health story slipped through barely noticed.
The most important farming legislation in a generations passed its third reading in parliament. In making the UK pliable for a post-Brexit US trade deal, protections of minimum food safety standards have evaporated, as have safeguards for Britain’s farmers. Guarantees of a minimum standard to protect British food – and therefor British farming – were absent from the overhaul of UK agriculture.
With most MPs still socially distanced at home, MPs passed the legislation’s third reading in a virtual vote – 360 – 211.
The article includes a full list of how MPs voted in this crucial legislation.
Further reading:
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Aus trade minister visit: UK farmers worry about low standards
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UK trade and agriculture ministers clash at agriculture bill reading
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Brexit: UK farmers and growers demand free frictionless EU trade
