Two Dumfries and Galloway politicians have been slammed over their “shameful” decision to vote against a bid to protect the farming sector from sub-standard food imports.
The move by Conservative MPs Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, and David Mundell has been branded “disappointing” by farmers’ leaders.
And Labour’s rural economy spokesman, MSP Colin Smyth, described their stance as “shameless and reckless”.
Mr Jack and Mr Mundell voted against a Commons amendment to the UK Agriculture Bill proposed by Devon MP Neil Parish.
It sought to ensure that food brought into the UK must meet the same tough standards for quality and welfare that domestic farmers adhere to.
It would have seen standards for all produce, including imports, enshrined in law.
But the move, which comes ahead of international trade negotiations, was voted down.
Mr Smyth said: “Both David Mundell and Alister Jack have serious questions to answer.
“They need to account for their actions and explain why they think the many farmers in their constituencies are wrong and they were right to ignore their views. This amendment would have helped protect the Scottish food and farming sector from sub-standard imports and it is completely shameful that it was voted down.”
Mr Smyth added: “Agriculture is a hugely important sector in Dumfries and Galloway and we must ensure that our hard-working farmers and the fantastic food they produce do not suffer as a result of the reckless behaviour of these MPs.”
Andrew McCornick, president of NFU Scotland, told the Standard: “It is not totally unexpected but it is disappointing.”
But he vowed to fight on, saying: “We will just have to move on to the next step, we will get very heavily involved with trying to influence what is going on in the House of Lords.
“We have not given up on this, it’s a bit of a setback - maybe more than that and it’s maybe not something that the local MPs should be doing, with the background in their constituencies.
“They might have a view of the bigger picture of what’s going on but they signed up to be part of the government.
The UK Agriculture Bill will form the basis of UK policy post-Brexit, the mechanism which sparked withdrawal from Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy.
He reiterated that farming leaders would continue to press the Government on “promises made” and added: “We do need to protect our industry.”
There are fears that the UK government’s bid to forge new trade relations outside Europe will open up the market to a tide of imports.
Mr Mundell defended his position and claimed backing the amendment would have been “counter-productive” to trade negotiations.
He said: “The UK Government remains committed to there being no reduction in standards for food coming into the UK from what we have currently.
“Ministers have pledged to keep our import standards, which include the ban on chlorine washed chicken and hormone injected beef. No UK import standards would be diminished as part of any future trade agreement.”
He also said the Government had vowed not to “undermine” the UK’s high domestic environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards by “enshrining in any agreement that British farmers are always able to compete”.
Mr Jack said: “We will not compromise on the UK’s high animal welfare and food safety standards.
“We will ensure that all future trade deals work for our consumers, farmers and businesses.
