MP votes to protect UK food, animal welfare and environmental standards and the NHS in future trade deals

In the House of Commons last night, South Lakes MP Tim Farron voted to protect UK food, farming and environmental standards and the NHS from being sold out in future trade deals.

Tim voted in favour of four amendments to the Trade Bill:

• An amendment which would protect the NHS and publicly funded health and care services in other parts of the UK from any form of control from outside the UK
• An amendment which would preserve food and farming standards in trade deals
• An amendment which would grant Parliamentary approval before a trade deal could be signed
• An amendment which would have required the consent of the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before a trade agreement was agreed

Despite cross-party support for these four amendments, all four were defeated by Conservative MPs.

Speaking afterwards, Tim said: "I was proud to join colleagues from across the House in voting to protect our world-class environmental and agricultural standards and our NHS.

"Sadly, it seems that too many Conservative MPs were prepared to put party loyalties ahead of the country.

"They have chosen to sell our farmers, our environment and our NHS down the river - we won't let them forget this."