ANDREA Leadsom’s speech to the Oxford Farming Conference confirms the worst fears of environmentalists on the possible negative consequences of Brexit and losing EU protections.

She makes it clear that this Government cares nothing for our environment when she pledges to scrap EU rules on crop rotation – a major alternative to the use of pesticides and insecticides. She declares an end to ‘existential debates to determine what counts as a bush, a hedge, or a tree’. I fear for our hedgerows and trees. How will our native wildlife survive once their habitat is destroyed?

She welcomes the involvement of the food industry in farming citing McDonald’s Progressive Young Farmers scheme, Sainsbury’s, McCains, and Moy Park apprenticeships in agriculture, farming, and food technology. Her future vision of farming is of an industry subservient to retailer’s needs. And what about the needs of the community for fresh food from local producers through farmers’ markets?

Obviously, this Government has no consideration for ordinary people and their needs but slavishly dances to the tune of big business. Profits before people has led to many past health scandals, salmonella in chickens, avian flu, mad cow disease, to name but a few.

Keith Taylor Green MEP for the South East says: ‘The ‘red tape’ [Andrea Leadsom] is threatening to cut is currently protecting our rural environment, our biodiversity, our soil, and the welfare of farm animals.’

What next, consumer rights, health and safety human rights? Nothing which guards the welfare of ordinary people is safe with this Government.

HAZEL DAWE

Convenor, Green Party of England and Wales Europe policy working group