MP stands up for Cumbrian farmers by voting against Australia and New Zealand trade deals

Tonight in Parliament, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron voted against the Government's controversial trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.

It comes after the Government's former DEFRA Secretary George Eustice said that the deal with Australia was "not actually a very good deal for the UK" and that it "gave away far too much for far too little in return".

According to the Department for International Trade, the deal with Australia will hit Britain's farming, forestry and fishing industry by £94m.

However, the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill was voted through by Conservative MPs, with Tim being the only Cumbrian MP to vote against the deals.

Speaking after the vote, Tim said: "These reckless trade agreements threaten to undermine Britain's food, animal welfare and environmental standards.

"I was proud to vote against these deals - their impact on Cumbria's farmers will be catastrophic.

"It's appalling that Conservative MPs claim to back our farmers in one breath and then support trade deals which throw them under a bus, in the next.