What happened on Back British Farming Day?

Minette Batters NFU President Back British Farming 2020

On Back British Farming Day (9 September 2020), the NFU urged politicians to put their words into actions and give Parliament a say on how future trade deals impact British food and farming.

We galvanised support from farmers with many using the day to post selfie videos, change their Facebook and Twitter pictures with a special frame and use #BackBritishFarming - which resulted in the hashtag trending at number five in the UK.

A big thank you from us to all NFU members who got involved.

The top tweet was from celebrity chef Raymond Blanc:

What Back British Farming Day achieved...

150 English and Welsh MPs showed their support on social media. MPs in Scotland and Northern Ireland also got involved.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson along with Labour Leader Kier Starmer and many more MPs wore their wheat pin badges in PMQs in the House of Commons, read more.
Five chefs got involved with the campaign posting videos, including Raymond Blanc (who was retweeted by Jamie Oliver), Brian Turner, Cyrus Todiwala and John Williams (Executive Chef at The Ritz).
Members from across the country also posted videos.
Over 1,300 Back British Farming supporters tweeted their support.
Where were we in the news? Here's the latest round-up.

♦ Watch now: NFU President Minette Batters thanks the public for their support

♦ Watch now: Prime Minister Boris Johnson shows support for British food and farming during PMQs

♦ Click here for Back British Farming Day highlights

What are the NFU’s asks?

The NFU wants Parliament to be provided with independent advice about the impact every trade deal will have on our food and farming standards before it decides whether to accept or reject those trade deals.

An amendment to the Agriculture Bill, put forward by Lord Curry in the House of Lords, would give this duty to the new Trade and Agriculture Commission, which was set up by the government in July.

The amendment will be debated by the House of Lords on Tuesday 22 September. The NFU is urging Peers to vote in its favour.

We'll have more on this on NFUonline as the amendment is discussed. You can watch the amendment live on Parliament TV here (part of the agenda which begins at 12noon).

NFU President Minette Batters said: “While the government has consistently said it has no intention of allowing the UK’s high standards of production to be undermined in future trade deals, there has been little detail about how it will back up this commitment. We need a clear commitment from Defra that it will set up a Trade, Food & Farming Standards Commission as quickly as possible to provide certainty for both farmers and the British public that our values of food production will be respected post-Brexit.” (2 September 2020).

NFU President Minette Batters said:

“We are at a pivotal time for the future of farming and the food on our plates. Nothing will determine this more than how the government shapes trade deals with countries around the world.

“There is no doubt that the countries we are currently negotiating with are demanding access to our prized market for their agriculture products and, right now, a trade agreement could be signed with little parliamentary scrutiny. This could result in a massive increase in the amount of food being imported that is produced in ways that would be illegal in this country."

“Politicians have time and again stated that they will not allow this to happen. There is now a clear solution on the table that will allow Parliament to be kept fully informed of the impacts any trade deal will have on the food we all consume. Time is running out. Action has to be taken now, or all the warm words will be for nothing.

“Today is Back British Farming Day and we want to celebrate why the British public have complete trust in British food and the farmers that produce it. Our farm to fork approach to traceability, how we look after our animals and our environment, and how we lead the world in reducing antibiotic usage are all the envy of the world and yet they are in jeopardy if they are undermined by future trade deals."

“I would urge all politicians to use today to think about these values, and what we have to lose. I would ask them to set British farming as the global standard in sustainable, climate-friendly food production, not undermine it in the pursuit of free trade. I would urge peers in the House of Lords to vote for this amendment next week, to amend the Trade Bill to increase Parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals and take a great step towards providing the proper parliamentary oversight of our future trade policy.”

Below: NFU President Minette Batters takes the opportunity to thank the public for their support with food standards and explains why we're at a pivotal moment and continue to need their help.

Back British Farming Day 2020: Highlights

Our officeholders on Twitter:

Prime Minister's Questions:

Many MPs have show their support for Back British Farming Day by wearing their wheat pin badges.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I am thrilled to support Back British Farming Day and it thanks to them (farmers) that we have fantastic food on our plates every day". Watch again: