Tim Farron calls for MPs to be given vote on trade deals to protect Cumbrian farmers

In Parliament last night, local MP Tim Farron made the case for MPs to vote on future international trade deals to stop farmers in Cumbria from being "thrown under a bus".

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

The President of the National Farmers Union, Minette Batters, said that the trade deals with Australia and New Zealand had "felt like a betrayal", with farmers "used as a pawn" to get agreements rushed through.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate on Parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals, Tim said: "Most MPs on both sides of the House wanted Parliament to do its job better than it was allowed to, particularly on the New Zealand and Australia trade deals.

"Better scrutiny means that Parliament should be able to sign off the negotiating mandate, and then sign off the deal itself.

"Surely, we have a right as a country to dictate the terms on human rights, animal welfare, environmental issues and carbon reduction. They should surely underpin the negotiating mandate of any trade deal. Then, when a vote is taken, it must not be taken after the damage has been done.

"Free trade is important, but we must not throw our farmers under the bus in the process. Free trade that is not fair is not free in the first place."