Food, Our Glorious Food

UK government must urgently ditch their plan to water down food standards to secure a trade deal with Donald Trump– or risk doing untold damage to food producers and opening a new constitutional crisis. Reports this week have indicated that the Tories are set to renege on previous commitments to maintain European food standards – opening the door to low-quality imports including chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef.

In January the then Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers had insisted that such imports would not be allowed, but unsurprisingly the Prime Minister has now done a U-turn in favour of putting the interests of the US before ours.

Over and over again his UK government promised our animal welfare and food standards wouldn’t be used as bargaining chips to negotiate a trade deal with the US, yet this is exactly what he is now doing. This follows Scottish MPs (including Conservative Banff and Buchan MP and Moray MP) rejecting an amendment which aimed to rule out foreign food imports which don’t meet UK welfare and environmental standards.

As the UK is leaving the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Agricultural Bill provides the legislative framework for replacement agricultural support schemes. However, an amendment was tabled by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee chairman Neil Parish for the bill to only allow the importation of agricultural goods if the standards are as high or higher than UK standards for animal welfare, environmental protection, food safety, hygiene and traceability. This amendment was defeated, with 277 votes for, versus 328 votes against.

The threat posed to Scottish farmers by this trade deal comes despite agriculture being wholly devolved. All parties, other than the Tories, have opposed this power grab on Holyrood – insisting that the Scottish Parliament have a formal role in approving trade deals affecting devolved issues.

Tory plans to flood the UK with hormone-injected beef, chlorinated chicken and other lower standard imports pose a huge threat to the Scottish food and drink industry. Yet again, Scotland's interests are being damaged by the Tories' Brexit obsession. If reports of this U-turn are accurate, it would completely betray the promises that were made and prove Boris Johnson is willing to sacrifice the interests of Scotland's farmers and producers to satisfy Donald Trump. Farmers and consumers deserve better than to have supermarket shelves flooded with low quality imports like chlorinated chicken.

But this decision shouldn’t be for the Tories at Westminster to take at all. Agriculture is entirely devolved to the Scottish Parliament – and imposing these lower standards on Scotland is an undemocratic power grab. It’s time for the Tories to think twice about this bargain basement deal with Donald Trump.

The best way to uphold and safeguard our food standards is to continue to ban products such as chlorinated chicken. Once you allow the principle that it’s OK to sell these controversial products in the UK, you’re effectively sanctioning the poor farming practices that our standards are meant to protect against. Our farmers deserve better, we all do.

Kindness

There has undoubtedly been a greater demand for mental health services over the past several weeks. Research undertaken by the Mental Health Foundation has revealed that one-third of UK adults are concerned about their future finances and debt, as well as feeling stressed about future employment.

These issues, in particular, can take a serious toll on both the mental and physical health of an individual. With the majority of us working from home during the COVID outbreak, it is also important that we take steps to keep ourselves safe online whilst protecting our mental health.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is kindness, and it has been fantastic to see so many selfless volunteers in the North-east helping individuals and the wider community during the Coronavirus outbreak. From ASDA employees in Peterhead doing shopping for elderly residents in their spare time to the many individuals calling vulnerable residents to make sure they’re not lonely, so many have dedicated their time to helping others.

It is inspiring to hear about the work going on across Banffshire and Buchan Coast. There are many incredible resources that can provide practical advice if you are struggling with your mental health. Exercising and keeping active is particularly important, and finding the time to have a daily walk or take an online exercise class can reduce stress.

The lockdown restrictions have been necessary to reduce and mitigate the massive harm caused by the COVID-19 virus, but the lockdown itself causes harm including loneliness and social isolation, deepening inequalities and damage to the economy. It is clear that we need a way forward and although it is going to be gradual and incremental phases by which lockdown will be eased for many of us it provides a much-needed sense of hope.

The Scottish Government have indicated that caution is still needed and so they will continue to carefully monitor the virus and its spread through contact tracing. However, Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis’ gives practical examples of what people, organisations and businesses can expect to see change over time. Despite lockdown, human contact remains important – keeping in touch with family and friends over the phone or via video calling to check-in can go a long way in boosting mental health.

Further useful information and suggestions for helping others can be found on the NHS Every Mind Matters website: http://nhs/uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters and also at the Mental Health Foundation – mentalhealth.org.uk. If you need to speak to someone Mind has a phone line open from 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday on 0300 123 3393 and the Samaritans also have a free hotline – 116 123.

As we ease out of lockdown and look to getting back into a way of life that we recognise, it is important to look after our mental health and the good mental health of our friends and family. Small acts of kindness can go a long way in brightening up someone’s day! As ever, if you have an issue that I can help you with please email me on msp@stewartstevenson.scot.