Political row in Moray after farming standards vote
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A POLITICAL row has broken out in Moray after an amendment to the Agriculture Bill was rejected – which would have banned UK imports produced to lower food and animal welfare standards.
The Bill is seen as the biggest reform of British farming since 1945.
The amendment, tabled by Neil Parish MP, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, was defeated in the House of Commons by 51 votes on Wednesday, May 13.
It was supported, however, by opposition MPs and some Conservative MPs who have long called for food standards on imports to be maintained to protect Scotland’s farming and food industry – a mainstay of the Moray economy.
NFU Scotland said it would continue to press for agri-food imports to be produced to at least UK equivalent standards.
Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead has expressed his "profound concern" after Moray Conservative MP Douglas Ross voted against the amendment by his colleague.
Mr Lochhead said it was worrying that Mr Ross voted against "safeguarding" the local farming sector – but Mr Ross, from a farming background, said he did not believe the amendment was needed.
Mr Lochhead said: "If there is one thing that our food producers and farmers can’t stomach, it’s the idea that their own government could give the green light to an un-level playing field and the prospect of a deal that allows imports that don’t have to meet the same high standards expected of producers in this country.
"It’s therefore hugely disappointing and a big worry that Moray’s Conservative MP voted against safeguarding his local farming and food sectors and that he didn’t support one of his own colleagues who wishes to protect the interests of Moray’s agricultural sector and food producers.
"The UK Government has turned its back on the European Union and is now negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal, and at the same time negotiations are now under way with Trump’s administration with the UK widely viewed as being in a weak position.
"UK ministers must not sell out Moray and Scotland’s world-leading food and drink industry.
"I have no doubt that folk in our farming community will be aghast at how their MP voted."
Mr Ross said: "As someone who was born and brought up on a farm here in Moray, who studied agriculture at college and worked on local dairy farms prior to my election, protecting our high standards in UK agriculture is hugely important to me.
"That is why I welcome the strong commitments from the prime minister and the entire UK Government that we will maintain our import standards, which include the ban on chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-injected beef. No UK import standards will be diminished as part of a Free Trade Agreement.
"We will also not undermine our high domestic environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards by ensuring in any agreement that British farmers are always able to compete.
"I fully understand the concerns that have been articulated but I am sure many of the fears are unfounded. In fact, there are many positives for UK agriculture as we negotiate new trade deals for our outstanding produce around the world.
"I’ve shown in the past that I will vote against my own party if I feel it's in the best interests of Moray, but in this case I'm clear that the UK Government's approach is one that will maintain and enhance our world-renowned standards."
NFU Scotland director of policy Jonnie Hall said: "While the passing of this landmark Bill unamended was no surprise, it was still deeply disappointing.
"The UK Agriculture Bill is a once-in-a-generation piece of legislation and it must safeguard the sustainability of domestic food production and the integrity of domestic food consumption.
"The Bill presents an opportunity to ensure that agri-food imports in the future are produced to at least equivalent environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards as those required of farmers and crofters in Scotland and the UK. Anything less would undermine the highest standards to which the industry in Scotland works to, and the entire agri-food supply chains of the UK.
"Encouragement can be taken from those MPs who argued so strongly yesterday for amendments to the Bill and NFU Scotland will continue to press its case as part a 26-strong, UK-wide alliance of agricultural, environmental, animal welfare and consumer groups as the Bill enters the Lords."
