This Government has definitely lost the plot

Academies, dj.

It IS a good U turn (I think the tax credits and disability cuts were good U turns too), but it really makes them seem like a bunch of chancers, who come up with ideas on the back of a fag packet and see how much they can get away with. Where's the planning or sticking to manifesto promises?

Just so whitewave

I think everything is being seen through the prism of the referendum. Blimey what else can we do?

Bedroom tax
Row back on human rights
Stop turning all schools into academies
Just for a start.

Oh and ease up on austerity, by applying some basic common sense and Keynsian economics

That's in less than a fortnight. Is that a record?
Not one the government will be proud of, but we can be, for putting a stop to it.
Just shows the power of the public.
Now what other u-turns do we want them to make?

Oh! Let me kiss someone that is so good. I shall totter to bed a happier person.

That's a good U turn though.

Another U turn!

www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/07/ministers-abandon-plan-to-scrap-farm-animal-welfare-codes-chicken-farming

Pretty sure British farmers do sell their goods as premium quality. But premium quality is not what the majority wants.

You are so right Deeda about legislation going through without our knowledge. I apologise for this going slightly off course but as it is we are complaining that we have little control over legislation passed in the European Parliament. Such a pity we can't trust our own politicians.

If it is correct about TTIP, then the farmers in the UK are missing an excellent selling point.

Our poultry could be marketed in the States as coming from the highest welfare with the animals treated with respect and care. There would undoubtedly be a big market for this type of product, and there is the money to afford it.

Why aim for the lowest common denominator?

I didn't know this I'm surprised it didn't come up on Countryfile last night or indeed The Archers (not being frivolous they often deal with serious farming issues). I think its appalling. I shall be even more careful about what I buy now.

The poultry industry is not known for voluntarily improving standards. Cheap chicken meat and cheap eggs are mass produced very intensively. This brings with it risks to animal welfare and human health. I'd worry that the industry has not done a great job on eliminating things like campylobacter and that voluntary regulation sounds dodgy. The industry had obviously been lobbying for this and it is not because they care about the feelings of the hens.

I most certainly do not want American food. Very mass produced, and quality very low.

secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/m/74c070eb/2d1c5aab/6e1996ad/46270708/2878908552/VEsF/

A petition on 38 degrees to Elizabeth Truss to try and stop it. They can't say the people voted for this.

We can but hope they will see sense. Some red tape we need.

It wasn't mentioned in the article in the Guardian, but I wonder if it has anything to do with TTIP.
British farm standards at the moment are much higher than US ones. That's one of the reasons that MEPs want us to stay in Europe and fight against TTIP.
If TTIP is passed, American companies will be able to sue the UK for not importing foods with GM, or other foods that do not adhere to our standards. Not that all British ones do, as you will see if you go on the www.viva.org.uk website, but at least we can prosecute those companies that break the law at the moment.

True Jen I should have said if it happens we will have to start again , I just hope it doesn't

I think that is why Tesco and other supermarkets are putting cosy Farm names on their products (I know it is another thread) I suspect they knew this was on the cards and were preparing the way to try and gain consumer confidence and loyalty.

It's still not through yet, Annie.

If we are as humane as we can be why did it take so long to bring some changes to factory farming, transported calves packed in lorries across the channel and other protests which took place and still are, now we will have to start again.

There were about half a dozen similar things put through just as parliament broke up for Easter.
They act like kids. Another one is the selloff of the land registry again.
It was stopped not so long ago, and they have put it up for sale again.

It's the fact that all this stuff goes through without our knowledge.

Lucky girl you have said exactly what I feel. It's a given that we are a humane as we can be. This is an abrogation of our responsibility and it is not done in my name. I certainly didn't have any idea this was what they would do.

Bad idea.

I mentioned it on another thread, but I agree, it's important enough to have a thread of its own.

www.viva.org.uk national day of action on Saturday 23rd April.
Faceoff, about the cruelty involved in the British pig industry. That was before this was known about.