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[DEBATE THREAD] It's #AgricultureBill time
Today MPs will participate in some of the most important #Brexit votes to date, including to #SaveOurStandards. Tune in here for all the main takeaways
Today MPs will participate in some of the most important #Brexit votes to date, including to #SaveOurStandards. Tune in here for all the main takeaways
But first, it's worth remembering the journey we've taken to this point. In 2018, the government announced "landmark" agricultural reforms to a subsidy system that would reward British farmers for improving nature and tackling climate change https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-agriculture-bill-to-deliver-a-green-brexit
Since then a lot has been revealed about the threat the UK's new trading context could bring to food standards and the reforms stemming from the bill. Read the Future British Standards Coalition's first report on the bill https://www.sustainweb.org/resources/files/reports/FBSC_Maintaining_UK_food_standards_embargo_12-10-20.pdf
Luckily, the Lords passed a series of amendments improving the bill. These relate to food standards but also climate change, pesticides, and linking agriculture subsidies to broader environmental goals. Read more about the detail here https://greeneruk.org/sites/default/files/download/2020-10/Greener%20UK_%26_Link_Ag%20bill_CCLA_briefing_0.pdf
Peers and MPs may be feeling slightly aggrieved that they have been denied a vote on the amendment upgrading the Trade & Agriculture Commission: https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1315043329487314944/PiOsyP9L?format=jpg&name=small https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-chlorinated-chicken-eu-mps-boris-johnson-b914047.html
Richard Fuller MP interjects immediately to raise this block with the speaker. @neil_parish also interrupts saying the gov are stifling debate by not passing a resolution to allow a vote
@VictoriaPrentis kicks off for the government to call for MPs to strip amendment 1 linking agricultural funding to wider environmental goals. She says the government are already carrying out the function of the amendment (so why take it out of the #AgricultureBill?)
The house seems pumped up, lots of interjections. @CarolineLucas makes the point that if the government agree with everything in an amendment why not accept it? She adds the #EnvironmentBill going missing shows how progress can slip
On the amendment limiting pesticide use near public buildings the minister says it too broad...
The minister moves onto trade standards. She rejects the amendments but proposes a suite of 'legislative and non-legislative measures'. Says standards are in law. But they are in secondary legislation which can be changed without debate or a vote.
She adds the Food Standards Agency are set to assess the risk of foodstuffs before they land on our shelves. Unfortunately the National Audit Office cast doubt over the agency's preparedness just last year: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ensuring-food-safety-and-standards.pdf
The FSA's CEO has also confirmed that ministers will have the final say over future import authorisations https://www.fginsight.com/news/news/fsa-stands-ready-to-assess-risk-of-chlorinated-chicken-and-hormone-treated-beef-110192
She moves on to outline the current scrutiny procedures when it comes to trade deals. Divert your attention to this great thread from @DavidHenigUK on just how inadequate these are https://twitter.com/DavidHenigUK/status/1315580804974759937
The minister points to the Trade Advisory Groups as a suitable stakeholder consultation process. There's one problem though, members are required to sign gagging orders before taking part https://news.sky.com/story/trade-experts-reject-government-gagging-orders-12034425
@VictoriaPrentis effectively says 'speak to @trussliz' when it comes to upgrading the Trade & Agriculture Commission. More Conservative backbench interventions follow...
The minister says no countries can impose their domestic standards onto imports. @hilarybennmp interjects saying the UK already does this as part of the EU. Elicits an admission from the Minister: it would make deals on food harder but not impossible #SaveOurStandards
I her conclusion, the minister nods to the "power of the British consumer" to read food labels as a barrier to food safety risks. But any imports of low standard food would be forced onto public sector procurers such as schools, in turn undermining domestic farmers...
She commits the government to consult on labeling post-transition. But trading partners such as the USA want the UK to do away with providence-based labeling and discriminatory labeling is less WTO complaint than import restrictions in many cases
Despite a fiery intervention by @CarolineLucas on peat burning, the minister recommends against an amendment issuing an ambitious net-zero target for agriculture. Really disappointing to hear...
The speaker confirms the #AgricultureBill debate will finish at 9pm. Less than 3 hours to debate amendments of this magnitude...
Shadow environment sec @LukePollard is up next. Comes out swinging on the #SaveOurStandards amendments. Returns to the government's manifesto promise not to compromise on food standards in trade deals
@JimShannonMP makes a crucial point. Not all parts of the UK are under the same requirements. Low standard imports would especially undercut rural Northern Ireland, who remain closer to the EU than elsewhere in the UK
Back to @LukePollard who calls for full scrutiny and a vote in Parliament before the ratification of all new trade deals
He makes a good point: low quality food imports would make it into food service system (restaurants, hospitals, armed forces) where the origin of ingredients is hidden
@neil_parish is up next. Starts by painting a picture of what the future of UK agriculture could look like. He has spearheaded efforts to safeguard standards in the #AgricultureBill to allow us to make that future
That was a barnstormer from @neil_parish. He hints that the work to upgrade the Trade & Agriculture Commission might not be over yet... #SaveOurStandards
@DeidreBrock lends the SNP's support to the #SaveOurStandards amendments. Says the government blocking the vote on upgrading the Trade & Agriculture Commission won't sit well with the breadth of support for for it in Scottish society
@JulianSturdy is up next, he's always backed the #SaveOurStandards amendments https://twitter.com/JulianSturdy/status/1314606034347085824?s=20
. @JulianSturdy emphatically outlines the case for measures on import standards, point to @CommonsEFRA efforts to put the government's manifesto commitment into law
Good point from @hilarybennmp: the pressure to deregulate agriculture will come from the USA whoever wins the election. He goes on to say 'equivalent' standards in the wording of the amendment gives some flexibility when comparing standards around the world
. @_RobbieMoore implies developing countries can't meet UK domestic food standards. They absolutely can and already do as a precondition of export to the UK, see this really positive example from India https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/spices-exporters-welcome-the-move-to-ban-27-insecticides/article31678988.ece
Sovereignty over our food quality is at risk unless the #SaveOurStandards amendments are accepted and the hand of UK negotiators is strengthened, says @timfarron
Another Conservative MP rises to #SaveOurStandards. @GeorgeFreemanMP calls upon the rural heritage of his party in rallying support for the amendments on food standards
. @GeorgeFreemanMP is over the detail here. Calls for bans with variable tariffs above them to steer global agriculture towards a cleaner, high-tech future. Says Parliament should go BEYOND the Trade & Agriculture Commission when it comes to scrutiny, wow! #AgricultureBill
The DUP's @carlalockhart backs the #SaveOurStandards amendments and says farmers can't maintain world-class standards alone
Labour's @KerryMP is up next, points to societal (and even cross-party) unity on the issue of food standards. Points to the Future British Standards Coalition's findings that high standards push global food quality up to the benefit of all (see above)
Not sure what @John2Win means when he says the UK Parliament had no say over trade deals in the EU. That's the same level of scrutiny the government are asking MPs swallow into the future...
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP makes the mistake of relying on tariffs to keep low standards food off UK shelves. They are harder to justify than bans at the WTO and can be lowered at the drop of a hat by ministers
. @BillWigginMP slams @Natures_Voice (RSPB) and @NFUPolitical for their alarm-ism. He should read the RSPB's report on 'a lost decade for nature' to grasp the scale of the challenge and the need to #SaveOurStandards
We need to lower the price of 'healthy food' says @BillWigginMP. @C4Dispatches reveals tonight just how healthy meat from the USA is
#AgricultureBill https://twitter.com/C4Dispatches/status/1315651199631319045
#AgricultureBill https://twitter.com/C4Dispatches/status/1315651199631319045
. @AnthonyMangnal1 tows the party line... mostly. He backs an upgrade to the Trade & Agriculture Commission, that's quite a lot of unusual suspects now #AgricultureBill
. @GarySambrook89 changes to standards in the future would not require a vote or a debate before coming into law. @jamieoliver outlines here how this could happen: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-54472586
. @AndrewBowie_MP also infers developing country farmers can't meet UK food standards. It's simply not true, there are a variety of standards in all countries, developing countries are not a monolith...
Woah, huge speech from Scottish Tory leader @Douglas4Moray. He says the best way to #BackBritishFarming is to support the Lords amendments on food standards. Moray beef farmers will be thankful! #AgricultureBill
@VictoriaPrentis rounds things up for the government. Gives no new concessions, says the government is not going to drop standards under any circumstances... She says she will speak with @tradegovuk about improvements to the Trade & Agriculture Commission
Now the voting begins
Amendment 11 restricting the use of pesticides near public buildings and workplaces is stripped from the #AgricultureBill
BreakingGovernment strip amendment 16 safeguarding food standards in trade deals from the #AgricultureBill by a majority of 53. The clearest signal yet that they do not intend to uphold their election manifesto commitment
Lots of disquiet on the Conservative backbenches on this issue, however. Especially having been denied a voted on the softer amendment upgrading the Trade & Agriculture Commission. This issue is far from over and the Lords are expected to return to it in ping-pong.
Perhaps most worrying for UK farmers, public and wildlife globally is the increasing government emphasis on labeling. That won't stop low standard food from being eaten, or farmers from being undercut, or our global environmental footprint from expanding...
Amendment 17 setting an interim net-zero climate change target for UK agriculture is stripped from the #AgricultureBill. Particularly disappointing given how much ambition UK farmers have shown in this area
Amendment 18 upgrading the Trade & Agriculture Commission is officially disagreed with, wrapping up the debate. There is a worrying emerging trend of government stripping environmental provisions from legislation including the #FisheriesBill (back tomorrow) & #AgricultureBill
