Andrew Duff Challenges Tories on EU Farm Policy
June 2, 2004 12:00 AM
European Liberal Democrat MP for the East of England Andrew Duff has challenged his Tory rivals to say whether or not they wish to withdraw Britain from the Common Agricultural Policy.
Speaking after a visit to the Suffolk Show today, Duff said:
"Yesterday Michael Howard outlined his vision of a pick-and-choose Europe where United Kingdom membership of the European Union would be infected with all sorts of opt outs and cop outs. But the Tories have been cagey about precisely which policies they want to leave and which they want to keep.
"The Conservatives threaten to ditch the CAP. British farmers need to know how a Tory government proposes to support the countryside - especially a Tory government that also promises to cut taxation.
"Farmers and all those who care about the future of rural Britain should not be fooled by the Tory change of policy on Europe. Withdrawal from the CAP would jeopardise British farming.
"The CAP has many faults but it is undergoing radical reform. I and my fellow Lib Dem MEPs have been campaigning for the draft Constitution that gives the European Parliament a decisive say in the future policy and budgetary decisions on the CAP. The Tories oppose the Constitution and want therefore to weaken the democratic input to EU agricultural policy."
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