Farage showing “utter ignorance” over embrace of US chlorine-treated chicken

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has condemned comments today from Reform leader Nigel Farage that he would allow chlorine-treated chicken to be brought to the UK as part of a US trade deal.

Speaking on the Today Programme this morning, the Reform UK leader said the US would “want US agricultural products to be sold in Britain" as part of any deal, risking anger from agricultural groups and consumers, which are overwhelmingly opposed. Asked directly whether he was in favour of allowing chlorine-treated chicken to be sold in the UK, Farage said: “I would allow consumers in America to buy our products and consumers here to buy their products, and provided we have the right labelling, that's good.”

The last major polling done on the issue, conducted in 2020, revealed that 80 per cent of Britons are opposed to allowing imports of chlorine-treated chicken to the UK, and the same proportion is also against allowing chicken products that have been farmed using hormones.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which is currently holding inquiries on the future of farming and on animal and plant health.

Responding, Mr Carmichael said:

“This is typical of Farage the plastic patriot: undermining British farmers for the benefit of his boss Donald Trump. Farage does not know the least bit about farming communities and his utter ignorance is on full display here.

“British farmers are rightly proud of the high standards we have for the food we produce in the UK. That is something we should support and celebrate, not denigrate. The last thing we need is chlorine-treated chicken or hormone-treated beef on our supermarket shelves.

“Farage is showing his true colours, as he did with our fishing industry in the past. He wants to use farmers as political pawns – and then sell them out at the first opportunity. We cannot let that happen.”