AN East Lancashire MP has dubbed Agriculture Minister Nick Brown a "wet rag" in the row over the French ban on British beef.
Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans claimed the minister's dithering had opened the door to a German ban on British beef.
He said Mr Brown's concessions to the French had allowed the Germans to follow suit and dealt British farmers a second blow.
"Our farmers have been hit by a double whammy. They have an Agriculture Minister whose negotiating skills are worthy of a wet rag. By allowing the French to maintain their ban on British beef, Nick Brown has given the Germans the perfect excuse to impose their own ban.
"Our farmers need a minister who is going to stand up for their interests. They need real action now. Next time Nick Brown meets his French and German counterparts, he must get tough and stand up for our farmers," he said. Nick Brown looks set to run the gauntlet of angry local farmers when he visits the North West next year.
He hopes to visit the Ribble Valley during a whistle-stop tour of the region to see for himself the crisis in local farming.
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