Sarah Dyke MP warns trade deals threaten British farming

Sarah Dyke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, blasted the government for pushing through trade deals that undermine UK agriculture and worsen the effects of Brexit on the economy, food supply chain, and welfare standards.

Ms Dyke, who is also her party's spokesperson for rural affairs, delivered a speech in the House of Commons recently, in which she criticised the lack of parliamentary scrutiny and claimed that these deals were being forced through without proper oversight.

She warned that they give an unfair advantage to imports from countries with much lower environmental and animal welfare standards.

Ms Dyke said: "People want to eat food produced to British standards of welfare, environmental and food safety.

"But currently they have no way of knowing and being able to make that choice."

She was particularly concerned about the absence of point-of-origin labelling, arguing that consumers are being misled into believing some imported products are British.

Ms Dyke said: "The Liberal Democrats demand that every new trade deal should be subject to proper scrutiny, but this government’s refusal to do so in their latest trade agreement with President Trump - despite calling for proper oversight while in opposition - is a reminder that Parliament has not yet taken back control."

She highlighted the struggles facing dairy farmers, who are facing competition from cheaper imported butter and cheese from New Zealand and the United States.

Ms Dyke recently introduced a Dairy Farming and Dairy Products Bill, which would require the government to ensure that future trade deals do not disadvantage British dairy producers.

She raised concerns about falling milk prices and said that poor trade deals have already resulted in a flood of imports from Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, which lack proper labelling requirements.

Ms Dyke said: "That has inevitably led to UK milk buyers slashing farm gate milk prices to a level that is simply unacceptable, and which is unsustainable."

She said that while the Liberal Democrats support free trade, it must be fair and not come at the expense of UK farmers.

"We cannot allow British farmers to be undercut by cheaper imports," she said.

"The Conservatives sold British farmers down the river in their desperation to agree trade deals by arbitrary deadlines, but there is now an opportunity to properly protect British welfare standards in all future deals.

"That must be at the forefront of this government’s mind in all future negotiations, as it is critical for UK farming, food security and national security."

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the renegotiation of trade agreements and a more robust policy to protect UK consumers from food produced to standards lower than those required in Britain.