Last night government defeated amendments to the #AgricultureBill which would have safeguarded our world leading #food & #farming standards.

Many @Conservatives MPs pledged to wear the wheatsheaf & #BackBritishFarming last month - inc my own.

A hollow & meaningless gesture.

It’s baffling that a govt is fighting tooth & nail to renege on its own manifesto commitment, sell out its farmers & inflict the dregs of the global food bargain basement on the poorest in our society. And for what? This?

Massive respect & thanks to those dozen or so Conservative MPs who did vote to their conscience & honour their manifesto commitment, inc -

@neil_parish @Simon4NDorset @GeorgeFreemanMP @DrNeilHudson @JulianSturdy @SirRogerGale @Douglas4Moray @carolinenokes Teresa Villiers

And thanks to @Minette_Batters for her tireless campaigning on behalf of #food & #farming. Nobody could have raised this issue higher.

But voters care about this, which means it isn’t going away. And the moral high ground is a very comfortable place to stand.

As a British farmer I’m proud of the part I play in our society, providing safe, nutritious food & stewarding our landscape & environment.

That’s a compelling vision, which is why in the end it’s government, not our food standards, which will be defeated.

Finally, check how your MP voted last night. Ask them to justify it. While looking you in the eye. https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/871