It appears U-turn Keir may be poised to about-turn on his manifesto pledge to ban foie gras and fur imports in an attempt to secure a trade deal with the EU. Ministers are reportedly considering an about-turn on the pledge, which Labour made in opposition on animal welfare grounds.
Officials are engaged in trade talks on food standards with Brussels, which are set to be finalised ahead of a summit in June or July. The trade talks come as part of Sir Keir’s wider “reset” with the EU, which includes a food and drink standards deal announced last year and closer alignment on energy and carbon markets .
Brussels has demanded Britain drop its opposition to foie gras, most of which is produced in France by force-feeding ducks and geese to artificially enlarge their livers. Under the terms Sir Keir is pursuing with the EU, Britain would be required to secure a special exemption from Brussels to continue with a ban, because European states are not allowed to ban each others’ food on animal welfare grounds. Sources close to the discussions told The Guardian that it was likely the UK would instead abandon the pledge to secure concessions in other areas
In the meantime, we have to swallow (no pun intended) the renaming of marmalade as citrus marmalade
Isn’t that tautology? If it was any other fruit it would be JAM. (Duh!)
