Adam Jogee
MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme · Labour · United Kingdom
“In business questions earlier, the Leader of the House said that a new Administration may want to look at whether they want to proceed with any current proposals in other areas. I hope the next Administration will hear my call today to look again at that reorganisation.”
“That is one of the few things I do not have to bang on about quite as much as I did when I was first elected to this House. I have worked hard to represent our excellent local farmers, who produce—with their flock and animals —excellent British food, and I will continue to be a strong champion for them.”
“I will not stop banging on about this until we put it right. More generally, I welcome the £120 million support package for the ceramics industry in Staffordshire, and I am grateful to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Minister for Industry, my hon. Friend the hon.”
“The announcement today and the proposals in it are completely unacceptable. I reject them in the strongest terms— [ Interruption. ] Don’t heckle me. I have been saying this all along, so let me finish; I speak for my constituents.”
“It is a pleasure to follow the Chairman of the Backbench Business Committee, the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman). I join him in paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe. We must be able to disagree without being disagreeable—or in this case, murderous—in our country.”
“I have a minute and a bit to go, so I will take the opportunity to add a few words. I thank my constituents for their commitment to our country and our community, and for holding me to account in no uncertain terms every single day.”
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“There is talent, ambition and creativity all over the Commonwealth, but it is time we harnessed it. My hon. Friend the Minister and his colleagues in the Foreign Office have the potential to change that, and I look forward to playing my part working with them and colleagues across the House and the Commonwealth in delivering the final sentence of the Commonwealth charter: “We aspire to a Commonwealth that is a strong and respected voice in the world, speaking out on major issues; that strengthens and enlarges its networks; that has a global relevance and profile; and that is devoted to improving the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth.” Happy Commonwealth Day 2026, Madam Deputy Speaker.”
“Commonwealth Day offers us an important moment not only to celebrate these bonds, but to consider how co-operation can be improved in the decades ahead. It must be a living, breathing partnership that amplifies the voices of its member states and strengthens connections between their peoples and economies. I urge Ministers in the Foreign Office to hear my calls to ensure that we redouble our efforts to make the Commonwealth fit for purpose, that the United Kingdom steps up to be counted in our financial support for the Commonwealth Secretariat, and that leaders across the Commonwealth recognise that we want action, not words. Our leaders must empower our people in Newcastle-under-Lyme, in Newcastle in New South Wales, in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, and—if I may, Madam Deputy Speaker—in north Southampton and Romsey.”
“Through respectful engagement, member states can act as critical friends to one another, encouraging progress while maintaining dialogue. The world has changed dramatically since the Commonwealth’s founding almost 80 years ago. The advances in technology, the urgency of the climate crisis and shifts in geopolitics have presented challenges that no country can tackle alone, and so it is important that we now renew and innovate our forms of international co-operation. The Commonwealth offers exactly that opportunity—a network that connects nations across continents, languages, cultures and faiths. It demonstrates that diversity does not weaken but strengthens us when we are united by shared values and common purpose.”
“My hon. Friend is right. As he talks about the importance of ports to the Commonwealth, I think of my grandfather who docked at Liverpool in February 1941 to help the war effort and fight the fascists. My hon. Friend makes an important point, which many of us in our cities, our families and our communities strongly feel. Strengthening those economic relationships could help grow our economy here at home while supporting development and prosperity across the Commonwealth. Of course, partnership must also include honest conversations about difficult issues. In some Commonwealth countries, serious concerns remain about the protection of human rights, including the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities. The Commonwealth should be a forum where such challenges can be addressed openly.”
“I know that it is naughty to intervene on the Minister in my own Adjournment debate, but since we have five minutes left—four minutes, excuse me —I wonder whether he might touch on a couple of those economic benefits to which he just referred.”
“The good people of our United Kingdom do not support the fur trade. We know that many designers and retailers have got the picture, too. I hope that the Minister will appreciate the significance of her sitting in this debate, because it was her twin, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Garston (Maria Eagle)—”
“I feel as if I am living in a parallel universe and in a previous life, sitting in a room talking about DEFRA, particularly animal welfare, with my hon. Friend, with various stakeholders and campaigners, and with the now shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore), who was then a DEFRA Minister. Talk about going back to the future! I am here to support my hon. Friend, and I support her Bill too. I am from a community in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where—judging from my inbox every week—the vast majority of my constituents could best be described as animal lovers. We have a real opportunity to make a meaningful difference to millions of animals and stop them being forced to endure mental and physical anguish that none of us would wish on our worst enemies.”
“I had not planned to speak; I only came to show my support for my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones), but as there is time I will make a brief contribution, with your indulgence, Ms Jardine. It is excellent to see you up there presiding over us; this is the first time that I have spoken in a debate with you in the Chair. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for her consistency and tenacity on these issues, and I thank all colleagues for their contributions to the debate. It has not been political, which speaks to the importance of the issue. I note that we have not heard from the two Opposition Front Benchers, but I feel sure that they will approach this debate as all others have done.”
“Forgive me, I should have known—two successful twins. My right hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Garston brought back the fur ban while I was in primary school, so it now falls to another Eagle to get the job done and deliver the fur-free Britain that we all want to see.”
“Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn in years gone by. Finally, I thank my hon. Friend again for securing this debate. I am glad that the speeches I wrote all those years ago were put to good use. And I am pleased, on behalf of my constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme, to be here today to show my support for this debate, for her Bill and for the campaign to deliver the fur-free Britain we all want to see.”
“I think this is the first time a Minister has intervened on me. There is a first time for everything, and it is a moment we will not forget, Ms Jardine. I am the oldest of three children, so I understand the pressures that siblings apply, and my younger siblings both have particular views about the state of the world today and how I might approach some of those issues. However, I feel sure that my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn will continue to hold the Minister to account and will help her to get to exactly the right place to deliver the fur-free Britain we all want to see. I thank all those who work, day in and day out, on animal welfare issues. Many of them are in the Public Gallery. I see Danielle, Sonul and others, many of whom I spoke to more than my siblings when I worked for my hon.”
“My constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme are sick and tired of poor-quality, dangerous roads. The county council has resources from this Government, and must stop being missing in action. What message does the Minister have for Staffordshire county council?”
“Notwithstanding what the Minister has said today, may I urge him to go further and much, much faster in ensuring that airlines and agents do not leave people in the lurch, do not take advantage and do not let them down?”
“I associate myself with the Minister’s condolences to the families of those who have been killed, and I thank him for his statement, for his tone and for summoning the Iranian ambassador yesterday, who I hope was left in no doubt about both our values and our resolve. I acknowledge the work to get those stuck in the middle east home, but my constituent and his family from Newcastle-under-Lyme are stuck because their flights through the middle east have been cancelled twice. The next available flight, they were told this morning, is on 24 March. Their travel agent has told the family that they must pay for their accommodation between today and 24 March, at a cost of about £1,000 a night for almost three weeks, which is £20,000 or so.”
“Can I take my hon. Friend up the M6 from Birmingham to Newcastle-under-Lyme and, through her, pay tribute to the wonderful Dougie Mac hospice? For many years, it has served people in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and across north Staffordshire. The staff there are committed, caring and compassionate, and they deserve a shout-out in this debate.”
“My hon. Friend is making a really important speech, which I am enjoying, as I am sure others are. He set out the challenges facing the palliative care system. Does he agree that rather than proceeding with changes to bring in assisted dying—a change from zero to hero that would only make the challenges he set out worse—the resources, effort and time of civil servants, the NHS and all of us should be focused on getting the palliative care system fit for the 21st century?”
“The best place in our kingdom, Newcastle-under-Lyme, is 30 miles or so from the Welsh border, so the recent rail announcement from this Labour Government will benefit my people, too, as the upgrade to the Marches line will deliver quicker services to south Wales. Can the Secretary of State reassure me that this investment will deliver real economic benefits for Staffordshire, England and Wales?”
“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Staffordshire County Council to commit to protecting College Fields, to rule out the erection of fencing or other measures that would restrict public access, and to work constructively with Madeley residents and local stakeholders to agree a future for the site that reflects the needs and priorities of the community. And the petitioners remain, etc. ] [P003164]”
“Following is the full text of the petition: [ The petition of residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Declares that there is growing concern in Madeley about proposals that would limit public access to College Fields, a green space that has been used by the community for many years; further declares that the prospect of fencing and restricted access has caused significant local opposition and raised questions about how decisions affecting the site are being made; further declares that College Fields is an important part of community life in Madeley, providing space for informal recreation, wellbeing and outdoor activity and therefore losing or limiting access to this field would have a real impact on local residents; further declares that local people have been clear that they want College Fields to remain open and accessible, and that any decisions about its future must be taken transparently and with meaningful community engagement; and further declares that imposing changes without proper consultation risks undermining trust and damaging a valued local asset.”
“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Staffordshire county council in the strongest terms to commit to protecting College Fields, to rule out the erection of permanent fencing or other measures that would restrict public access, and to work constructively with Madeley parish council, the people of Madeley and other local stakeholders to agree a future for the site that reflects the needs and priorities of our community.”
“The petition states: “The petition of residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Declares that there is growing concern in Madeley about proposals that would limit public access to College Fields, a green space that has been used by the community for many years; further declares that the prospect of fencing and restricted access has caused significant local opposition and raised questions about how decisions affecting the site are being made; further declares that College Fields is an important part of community life in Madeley, providing space for informal recreation, wellbeing and outdoor activity and therefore losing or limiting access to this field would have a real impact on local residents; further declares that local people have been clear that they want College Fields to remain open and accessible, and that any decisions about its future must be taken transparently and with meaningful community engagement; and further declares that imposing changes without proper consultation risks undermining trust and damaging a valued local asset.” It also notes that an online petition on the same issue has reached over 1,000 signatures from people who live, learn and work in Newcastle-under-Lyme.”
“The Sudanese diaspora in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme will welcome the statement today, and I thank the Foreign Secretary for her leadership in travelling to the region—we have to be seen to be believed. I welcome the programme of sanctions that has been announced, because we must do whatever we can to end the murders, the evil and the bloodshed. I am pleased that the Foreign Secretary met the African Union and regional Foreign Ministers, which is something for which I have pushed for several months, alongside other colleagues, when discussing these issues, and I thank her for unpicking those conversations. She has mentioned Germany and Norway, but can she further unpick what our European allies—France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and the rest—are doing to help us end this war?”
“I am grateful to my hon. Friend for setting out the danger to our county in not taking this issue seriously. I know that he shares my horror about the case of my constituent, who was knocked down as he took his daughter to school in December 2025. Luckily, he pushed his daughter away, and he was not killed, but it was very close indeed. Will my hon. Friend join me in urging Staffordshire county council finally to get a grip and ensure that roads in our constituencies are made safe?”
“I am grateful to my other constituency neighbour for giving way—there is a theme about the quality and condition of our roads in Staffordshire. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for setting out the situation in her constituency, and I just want to make it clear that the same situation is also happening in Newcastle- under-Lyme and other parts of north Staffordshire.”
“Question put and agreed to. Ordered, That Adam Jogee, Henry Tufnell, Elaine Stewart, Dr Allison Gardner, Gareth Snell, Jacob Collier, Leigh Ingham, Samantha Niblett, Amanda Hack, Martin Vickers, Rachel Gilmour and Robin Swann present the Bill. Adam Jogee accordingly presented the Bill. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February , and to be printed (Bill 378 ).”
“As I present my Bill today, I think of the many men and women over generations who have worked in the ceramics industry in Newcastle-under-Lyme and north Staffordshire. I think of the potential untapped, the opportunities yet to be taken and the future that we can build together. I am grateful to colleagues from all four nations of our United Kingdom, and from both sides of the House, for putting their names to my Bill. The Government must invest in further support so that we can safeguard jobs in communities like mine in our industrial heartlands, support our local economies and ensure that the British brick industry is fighting fit. My Bill is simple and common-sense, and its time is now. Our workers deserve it and our economy needs it. My Bill will help shape and build the future of our United Kingdom, so let us get on with it.”
“Another key part is skills, and I am so proud that Newcastle college, based on Knutton Lane in Newcastle-under-Lyme, offers a full-time level 1 diploma in brickwork. We are upskilling our people in Newcastle-under-Lyme, but we cannot do so without sustaining our British brick industry in future to ensure that those young people have something to do with their smarts, skills and qualifications. The potential cost to the livelihoods of people in my community, and to the strength of our local economy and businesses, is too great for us not to get this right. My Bill sets out a local-first approach that will help support our ceramics industry, and I look forward to working with His Majesty’s Government to do more in the weeks and months ahead.”
“Let us get real about it: the ceramics industry is hard to decarbonise, but let us not forget that our businesses are willing to engage and to make their contribution to that effort. Progress can be and is being made. Recent initiatives, such as pilot hydrogen-fired kilns, demonstrate that the industry is committed to modernising itself with low-carbon manufacturing. Hydrogen production is vital to manufacturers having the confidence to move away from natural gas kilns to modern electric and hydrogen-fired manufacturing processes that will future-proof the industry. The ceramics industry cannot deliver this transition without sustained support, and my Bill is one part of the jigsaw.”
“My constituency neighbours over the A500—I see a couple of them here today—and colleagues on the Government Benches will continue standing up for the ceramics industry and keep pushing the Government to go further and to do more in standing up for and protecting the industry in our communities and this country. This Bill is part of doing just that. Despite being best known for producing tableware, the ceramics industry plays a crucial role in our ability to build anything in Britain. We cannot manufacture steel, glass or—as my Bill draws attention to—bricks without it. The sector and its supply chain are concentrated in our part of the world, but over the last few years, the industry has suffered huge losses due to rising energy costs, trade disruptions and the ongoing impact of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
“They provide longevity, durability and adaptability, and they sit a cut above the rest. The lack of domestic demand for British-made bricks hits our economy and damages local businesses. Newcastle-under-Lyme—as I have said before, the centre of our collective universe—is home to one of 15 Ibstock factories. Ibstock is a leading British brickmaker, with a proud history of supplying bricks to British businesses, builders and the wider construction industry for more than 200 years. At its factory in Chesterton in Newcastle-under-Lyme, it employs local people, boosts our local economy and rightly makes the case that we must do whatever we can to reduce the risks of undermining the competitiveness of British-made bricks, and I agree. North Staffordshire is the ceramics centre of not just our country, but our world, and the industry is hurting.”
“British-made bricks, from Newcastle-under-Lyme and across the country, will typically travel shorter distances to building sites, helping to lower transport-related emissions and keeping their value in our local communities. It is bonkers that we are relying on second-rate imports when British-made bricks are of the highest quality and build resilient, long-lasting homes and buildings. That is important in the context of the building safety reforms required after the disgraceful Grenfell disaster, the costs of energy, and how we preserve our planet and protect our environment. A typical clay-brick building has a lifespan of around 150 years; at the end of that life, the bricks can be refurbished, recycled and reused. They are strong, weather-resistant and fire-resistant.”
“We must start giving the British brick industry the backing it deserves, and we will do that with this Bill. The British brick industry started to decline when brick kilns were shut across the country following the economic crash of the late noughties, and brick imports to the United Kingdom began to make up for that decrease in domestic production. Around 20% of the brick market is now made up of imported bricks. That impacts our workers and hits British manufacturing, and it needs to change. Imported bricks are being shipped over longer distances, including from far across the seas, with each brick used resulting in a greater carbon release.”
“It is about buying British, building with British, and backing British workers. The manufacturing base for bricks here in the United Kingdom is ready to meet the demand for our building needs of all types. With that readiness, we would and should expect to see a thriving building material industry in our country, but we do not. Instead, we see manufacturers up and down the country on the brink, thanks to a lack of domestic demand. Our United Kingdom can produce around 2 billion bricks a year, yet most manufacturers are currently operating at around 70% utilisation. That is because in recent years, this country has started to rely on second-rate imports, often of a lower quality than the bricks made to the highest of British standards.”
“That means that we build in the right places, with respect for our green spaces and our natural world, and do it with our people, not to them. As we do that, we must remain resolutely focused on building good-quality homes and building communities. That is how we end overcrowding, stop the struggle facing families across the United Kingdom in finding affordable, long-term and secure housing, and—importantly—give young people and first-time buyers a place to call their own. I have only ever owned one home, and it is in Newcastle-under-Lyme. I want all families to have the security that their own home can and will provide, but this is not just about homes; it is about new schools and the community centres that bring people together. It is about the new hospitals. It is about the restoration of this place.”
“I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for measures to increase the use of British-made bricks in construction projects in the United Kingdom, including specific measures relating to the building of new homes; and for connected purposes. This Bill is a big deal for my community back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Our people are smart and skilled; for generations, they powered our nation, they made, they designed and they thrived. My Bill is about ensuring that communities in our industrial heartlands are not forgotten or left behind and are given the opportunity once again to show what they are made of. We all know that there is a housing crisis in our country, so I welcome the commitment to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament.”
“The right hon. Lady represents one part of the west midlands; I represent another part—the last seat in Staffordshire, which is on the Cheshire border. Many of the challenges that my constituents in Madeley, Audley, Wolstanton and Clayton have raised with me are related to the role that private companies, like D&G Bus and First Bus, play in delivering the bad or unreliable services to which she refers. Is it not the case that, as well as political will, we need those bus companies to step up and deliver?”
“I am grateful to my hon. Friend and county neighbour for giving way. I just want to give voice to the people in his constituency who he has just referred to, as well as people in Newcastle-under-Lyme and north Staffordshire. On that urgent need, I join him in urging the county council to get its act together and do so quickly.”
“Plant and Wilton in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre is a wonderful family butchers, which of course gets meat from farms both locally and up and down the kingdom. Pubs like the Swan in Betley and the Albert in town are moments away from farms that are tended to by brilliant farmers, some of whom, I suspect, enjoy a pint or two from time to time. At the Butchers Arms in Audley, Mark the landlord is known for his excellent cooking prowess—again using British food from British farms, many of which are located in Staffordshire. It is similar at the Archer in Wolstanton. When we think about the standards required for the meat and other food that we eat in the pubs I have referred to, and that people enjoy up and down the country, it is important that we make the case for the highest and strongest British standards every step of the way.”
“I am firmly of the view that we should always buy British, as that is smart and necessary for our farmers and for the future of British farming. It is also good for our pubs, shops and restaurants, and I hope that Front-Bench colleagues—not this Minister as there is plenty for her to do, but others—will do what the previous Conservative Government did not do: get a hold of the challenges facing the hospitality sector in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across the nation, and ensure that support for our town centres and local businesses is delivered speedily. As I make that call to support those businesses, which are in turn supported by our farmers and local farming sector, I also think about brilliant local businesses that stand with our farmers every day.”
“They tend to our land, they produce the clear majority of what ends up on our dinner tables, and they allow us all to feel a sense of pride. Their contribution underpins our food security and strengthens rural economies. The Speeds at Betley Court farm are responsible for a brilliant fireworks display in November each year, and the Betley show each August, and all colleagues—including you, Madam Deputy Speaker—would be welcome to join the festivities this year. At the Kennerley’s Plum Tree Park farm, grass-fed lamb boxes are supplied seasonally, and there is a dog playground; they have diversified their offer to consumers, their neighbours and our community, and helped to put our part of the world on the map. I hope the Minister will come to see those success stories in Newcastle-under-Lyme for herself before too long.”
“I thank the NFU and all the farmers in my patch who spoke out, and I am grateful to colleagues in government for ensuring we are now in the right place. It is also why I set up my farmers’ forum soon after the general election, because after years of being let down and forgotten, I wanted my farmers back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme to get the hearing they deserve, the support they need and the opportunities to thrive, to keep us fed and to keep going. There is so much in our United Kingdom that we should be proud of, and Britain’s farmers are just one example. I feel sure that our farmers in Staffordshire, and particularly those in Newcastle-under-Lyme, are leading the way. They are the backbone of our food system.”
“I promised every single farmer I met in the months and years before the general election, and in the time since, that I will do whatever I can to support farmers in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and across our country. That means defending our standards every single day. That is why this debate is important, so I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire for securing it. That is also why I am pleased that we got to the right place on agricultural property relief and the inheritance tax threshold for farmers and farming families. There has been much commentary on this issue and much genuine concern felt by farmers in my constituency and up and down the United Kingdom. A number of us raised it loudly, repeatedly and, thankfully, effectively.”
“Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Sam Carling) gave an excellent speech to open the debate, but I want to focus my remarks on the farming industry and the brilliant farmers in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Like my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire (Amanda Hack), I am on the National Farmers’ Union fellowship scheme this year. I am also the vice-chair of the international trade and investment all-party parliamentary group. Madam Deputy Speaker, as you have heard me say before, Newcastle-under-Lyme is an age-old market town in north Staffordshire, surrounded by the green, rolling hills for which England—and Wales, of course—is known and of which we are all proud.”
“Madam Deputy Speaker, isn’t it wonderful to get to Thursday and find that business has run fast, so there is no time limit on speeches and some time to go? Rejoice! [ Interruption. ] I shall rejoice; whether others do is a different matter. This has been an excellent debate, and I particularly enjoyed the speech from the hon. Member for Caerfyrddin (Ann Davies). I went through her constituency last summer on the way to go and see my hon. Friend the Member for Mid and South Pembrokeshire (Henry Tufnell). Next time, I shall stop off for a cuppa and see her in action. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme (Lee Pitcher), I married a woman from a family of farmers, so I share his experience and interest in these issues. My hon.”
“They are the ones flying the flag for the highest of standards, so we need to ensure that they are not undercut when food with lower standards comes from elsewhere. My message to farmers and producers in Newcastle-under-Lyme is that this Government hear them loud and clear, and they have our full support.”
“We are creating a new farming and food partnership board, chaired by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, that will bring together farmers, processors, retailers and the Government, so that those working on our land have a real voice in how policy is made to ensure that we always maintain the highest of British standards. We rely on trade to complement what we grow here, to give families year-round choice, to help stabilise prices, to protect our supply chains when global shocks hit and—I know the Minister will agree—to ensure that the highest of British standards are maintained and supported. We will not always get everything right and nor will we always make everyone happy, but we do need to listen to our farmers and our food producers.”
“While Scottish salmon is the kingdom’s leading food export, I hope that the Minister will also do whatever she can to help me to increase exports of Staffordshire oatcakes, because the world deserves nothing less. To put it simply, we must protect our farmers, uphold our standards, and back British food at home and abroad. Notwithstanding the challenges over agricultural property relief, I welcome the steps being taken by the Government to give British farmers the tools, investment and confidence that they need to thrive.”
“I know that the Minister and the Secretary of State are planning targeted overseas missions, so I urge them and other colleagues to look at the Commonwealth, with which we already have age-hold historical ties, as the default partner of choice. As we look to ensure that we export British goods that have been produced to the highest of standards, we will benefit greatly from that partnership. I suggest that the Minister speaks to colleagues in the Department for Business and Trade to ensure that all our trade envoys are banging the drum for British food, because we know that it is produced to the highest of standards—standards that the rest of the world can only look to for inspiration.”
“Friend the Member for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme pointed out, we must always back British standards, we must always back British food and we should never bargain either away. We must never sign trade deals that leave our farmers, including those in Newcastle-under-Lyme, exposed or allow lower quality imports to undercut what British producers deliver day in, day out and to the best of standards. There is big and serious export potential for British food. I want people from across the world to buy British, to eat British and to benefit from the highest of British standards. I am co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the Commonwealth.”
“Member for Caerfyrddin pointed out, farmers like her, and many in Newcastle-under-Lyme who are working to the highest of British standards, have been forced to endure for far too long. Across the last three years of the previous Government there was a £358 million underspend in the agricultural budget. I hope the Minister will confirm that under this Labour Government, farmers will always receive the support they need not just to maintain the highest of British standards, but to ensure that food production is more sustainable and profitable. While the Conservatives sold out and undercut farmers in trade deals—we must not forget that—I urge my colleagues in the Government to continue with their principled approach. As my hon.”