The Green Party has expressed disappointment at the rejection of key Lords amendments to the Agriculture Bill during votes in the House of Commons last night.
Jenny Jones, who worked on the Bill in the House of Lords, said:
“This is a once in a generation moment to think differently about our food and farming system. I am deeply disappointed that amendments passed in the Lords to protect animal welfare standards, limit pesticide use, and create a farming system fit for the climate emergency have been squandered.
“This is a missed opportunity to make protection of our climate and allowing space for nature to flourish to be central to how we manage our land.
“The voting down of the protection for British farming standards in future trade deals breaks the Tories’ election promise that ‘in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards’. It is a betrayal of the farming community that has been loyal to the Conservative Party for so long.”
Baroness Jones expressed her determination to continue work to protect both farmers and the environment when the Bill returns to the Lords:
“I’m glad we have managed to work with Labour and Liberal Democrat Peers to build strong support for the protection of environmental and animal welfare standards. We are determined to use the majority we enjoy in the Lords to protect British farming and our natural environment.”
ENDS