Coronavirus UK tiers: Michael Gove wades into scotch egg ‘substantial meal’ row

A row deepened today over whether a scotch egg can be classed as a ‘substantial meal’ under rules only allowing alcohol to be served with food from tomorrow. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said two scotch eggs would be ‘a starter’, just 24 hours after Environment Secretary George Eustice said one is a substantial meal. The … Read more

George Eustice warns ‘time is running out’ to strike EU trade deal

Environment Secretary George Eustice warns ‘time is running out’ to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU as the two sides enter a ‘crucial week’ but they are still deadlocked on fishing rights Brexit trade talks between UK and EU now potentially entering their final week Two sides remain deadlocked on crunch issues of … Read more

Axe falls on taxpayer subsidies to farmers: George Eustice to confirm that payments will be stopped

Axe falls on taxpayer subsidies to farmers: George Eustice is to confirm that payments will be stopped in post-Brexit shake-up of agriculture Environment Secretary George Eustice will give details on the cuts today  The subsidies will be cut from next year and gone altogether by 2028   The National Farmers’ Union warned last night that it … Read more

Brexit trade deal ‘must be done this week’ as UK plays down Cummings’ departure

Brexit trade deal ‘must be done this week’: Ministers deny Dominic Cummings’ departure will mean UK concessions as Dublin says agreement is ‘doable’ but talks are STILL deadlocked over EU’s fishing demands By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline Published: 09:30 GMT, 15 November 2020 | Updated: 09:34 GMT, 15 November 2020 Ministers today dismissed … Read more

Brexit: Ministers must enforce high UK food standards in trade deals

Ministers bow to pressure to enforce high British food standards in post-Brexit deals by beefing up farms watchdog to give them ‘stronger voice in UK trade policy’ Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) will be placed to scrutinise trade deals  Report produced about impact on animal welfare and agriculture of future deals Move comes after warnings … Read more

Ministers snub move to protect British farmers from poor-quality foreign food

Calls to enshrine British farming standards in law were rejected by the Government yesterday. On Monday MPs will vote on an amendment to the agricultural Bill that stipulates food products imported under future trade deals meet or exceed UK domestic standards.  Environment Secretary George Eustice told the Daily Mail he would not support the amendment. … Read more

Brexit: Environment Secretary George Eustice threatens standoff with EU trawlers

Britain is ready to fight and win a new ‘Cod War’ with the EU if Brexit trade negotiations collapse, the Environment Secretary said last night. In an interview with the Mail, George Eustice said ministers have quietly put in place a ‘five-fold increase in our enforcement capacity’ over the last year in preparation for a … Read more

The big clean-up starts on Friday! Environment minister rallies UK to tackle surge in Covid litter

Litter-pickers across the land were yesterday urged to mobilise this Friday to tackle the huge surge in Covid rubbish since lockdown measures were eased. It came as the Environment Secretary urged the public to pull together to defeat the menace. George Eustice said the increase in socialising outside had left the nation’s parks and beaches … Read more

Holiday HELL for up to 75,000 Britons with Portugal on brink of going BACK on UK quarantine list

Ryanair flights from Portugal have rocketed to £302 today from £20 two weeks ago as up to 75,000 Britons faced having to rush back home with the holiday hotspot on the brink of being re-added to the UK quarantine list.  The prospect of travellers from Portugal having to self-isolate for two weeks for a second … Read more

British holidaymakers rush to book early flights home from Portugal

British holidaymakers are rushing to book early flights home from Portugal as the country looks set to go back onto the UK’s quarantine list. Direct flights from Faro to London are selling fast, starting at around £250 for a seat mid-week and rising to more than £300 on Friday. London-based businessman Sergio Dionisio is predicting … Read more