Angela Richardson and the Conservative Government have thrown British farmers on the scrapheap

Yesterday, Conservative MPs rejected amendments to the Agriculture Bill which would have forced the UK Government to ensure that British food and animal welfare standards are maintained in any trade deals.

MP for Guildford and Cranleigh Angela Richardson, as expected, failed to back these measures, despite over a million people signing an NFU petition calling for the UK Government to put laws in place that prevent imports of food that is produced in ways that are illegal here in the UK.

The Liberal Democrats have committed to continuing the fight to protect British farmers, including exploring further amendments to the Trade Bill.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson Zöe Franklin for Guildford and Cranleigh added:

"The Conservatives promised in their General Election manifesto just last year to protect British farmers, but yesterday they betrayed that promise.

"We now risk seeing foods that are currently illegal in the UK - like hormone-treated beef, and fruit and vegetables produced using banned pesticide - making it onto our supermarket shelves.

"It is also unfair to subject our farmers to competition from foreign producers who are not held to the same high standards of food production as our national producers. This creates an uneven market which disadvantages our own producers.

"Angela Richardson should hang her head in shame. She has let everyone across Guildford and Cranleigh down by putting Boris Johnson's government first."

Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron said:

"Unlike the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats back British farming. We want the Government to work in partnership with UK farmers to protect our world-class food and animal welfare standards, cut greenhouse gas emissions and support the recovery of our natural environment.

"We will do everything we can to continue the fight to protect British farmers, including exploring further amendments to the Trade Bill."

5th November 2020