NFU President Minette Batters is delivering a punchy speech on food standards
She says it'd be "morally-bankrupt, work of the insane" to embrace some of the production used abroad e.g Australia, Brazil, Malaysia
"This isn't hysteria, this isn't mumbo-jumbo, this is fact"
She says it'd be "morally-bankrupt, work of the insane" to embrace some of the production used abroad e.g Australia, Brazil, Malaysia
"This isn't hysteria, this isn't mumbo-jumbo, this is fact"
Batters warns HMG that meat imports washed in "chlorine or *other chemicals*" are unacceptable (that's a clear reference to lactic acid)
She says: “What is more important to our economy, our health and our environment than the very food that we eat?”
businessinsider.com/brexit-eu-set-…
She says: “What is more important to our economy, our health and our environment than the very food that we eat?”
businessinsider.com/brexit-eu-set-…
Batters pulling no bunches in this speech
She asks why government is reluctant to ask experts
If HMG "is serious" about upholding food standards after Brexit, she says, it should put legal promises in the Agriculture Bill (HMG is refusing)
Details here insider.com/british-farmer…
She asks why government is reluctant to ask experts
If HMG "is serious" about upholding food standards after Brexit, she says, it should put legal promises in the Agriculture Bill (HMG is refusing)
Details here insider.com/british-farmer…
Batters' #NFU20 remarks on food standards
"To sign up to a trade deal which results in opening our ports, shelves and fridges to food which would be illegal to produce here would not only be morally bankrupt…
"It would be the work of the insane"
Message to HMG loud and clear
"To sign up to a trade deal which results in opening our ports, shelves and fridges to food which would be illegal to produce here would not only be morally bankrupt…
"It would be the work of the insane"
Message to HMG loud and clear
Minette Batters on HMG's refusal to add legal safeguards for food standards to the Agriculture Bill:
"Why would government not want to legislate on this? Why would government not want a commission of experts to advise?"
She then questioned HMG's honesty (extract pictured)...
"Why would government not want to legislate on this? Why would government not want a commission of experts to advise?"
She then questioned HMG's honesty (extract pictured)...
On negotiating an FTA with the US, the CBI's Carolyn Fairbairn says they will be "challenging" and "difficult conversations to have" as the US and UK have made "very different choices" on food production
CBI's Fairbairn and NFU's Batters asked about a so-called "Australia-style" deal
Fairbairn: "We ought to do an awful lot better than that... rock-bottom trade deal"
Batters: "code for no deal... catastrophic"
She adds US officials "mouths dropped" when she brought it up
Fairbairn: "We ought to do an awful lot better than that... rock-bottom trade deal"
Batters: "code for no deal... catastrophic"
She adds US officials "mouths dropped" when she brought it up
Given Batters’ speech was intended as a direct message to HMG - Eustice was originally supposed to be in the room for it - you cannot overstate 1. how strong her remarks were 2. the gulf between HMG and business groups on key issues (see Andrew Neil’s remarks to Make UK this AM)
