Brexit reset negotiations by the Government will have an impact on Britain’s beloved sausages, Reform UK’s deputy leader has said.
Sir Keir is entering the final stages of his reset with Brussels, amid furious claims he is selling out Brexit.
And Reform say it will impact Britain’s bangers with ham and bacon producers preparing for new trading terms that could force food manufacturers to follow EU rules.
The EU is bringing in new rules from October to limit the amount of nitrates produced in processed meats, including bacon, ham and sausages.
The UK presently has no plans to follow the bloc’s lead, although this could change if Sir Keir hands control of Britain’s food and agriculture back to Brussels.
The issue of food standards is now being discussed “at the highest levels of British government and the EU”, and will be a focal point of the PM’s summit on Monday.
The news has sparked comparisons with a popular plot from hit BBC sitcom Yes, Minister, in which the titular Jim Hacker wins over mass public support with his campaign to resist EEC rules banning Britain’s breakfast.
Referencing the hit show, Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit betrayal is on and it begins with an attack on the Great British Banger.”
“The British people will not stomach a EuroSausage, nor a slow march back into the EU.”
Sir Keir is believed to be focussing on food safety, as well as aligning animal and plant regulations in order to reduce trade friction and boost economic growth.
The British Government maintains that the current levels of nitrates used in food processing are entirely safe for consumers.
Meanwhile the Food Standards Agency argues that the nitrates Brussels wants to ban are “essential” to protect hungry Brits from aggressive food poisoning from their fry up.
Sir Keir will welcome EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to London on Monday for the highest-level talks since he announced his planned reset.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We have been clear that we will always act in the national interest to secure the best outcomes for the UK.”
“No final agreement has been made. We are not providing a running commentary on our discussions with the EU, these are ongoing and cover a wide range of issues.”
