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Westminster Government Rejects French Proposal to Lift Scottish Beef Ban

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Westminster Government has refused a proposal from the French government to lift the ban on Scottish beef, sparking outrage among Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Alex Salmond and Tory Agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo. French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin had suggested allowing imports of beef from grass-fed Scottish cattle, but the UK Government rejected the offer, preferring a UK-wide end to the ban. The decision has been met with anger, with Mr. Salmond accusing the Westminster Government of taking an "anti-Scottish action" and trying to keep it quiet.

Key Takeaways:

  • The French government proposed lifting the ban on Scottish beef, but the UK Government refused, preferring a UK-wide end to the ban.
  • French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin suggested exempting British cattle that was exclusively grass-fed, mainly Scottish herds such as Angus beef, but was turned down by the UK Government.
  • Tory Agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo attacked the Government for failing to reveal the offer in a statement to the Commons.
  • Agriculture minister Nick Brown and Prime Minister Tony Blair made no mention of the French proposal in their recent statements to MPs about the beef dispute and the Helsinki European Summit.
  • The European Commission is currently preparing legal action against France which could cost it millions in compensation.
  • A Downing Street spokesman said that lifting the ban on Scottish beef would have undermined the date-based export scheme.
  • A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said Mr. Jospin's proposal did not amount to a formal offer.
  • Tory sources said that the decision by Mr. Brown and Mr. Blair was probably correct, but it was wrong that the offer had not been revealed in statements to MPs.

Statistics:

  • $250 million: The cost of the new European Parliament building in Strasbourg.
  • Millions: The potential cost of the European Commission's legal action against France.

Sources:

- "The agency's decision surprised us, we had thought we were going to lift the embargo." - French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

- "However superficially attractive it might have been it would have undermined the date-based export scheme which is far stricter than the certified herd scheme." - Downing Street spokesman.

- "This is a matter for the Commission not us. The date-based export scheme was approved by the Commission and endorsed by the EU's scientific steering committee." - Spokesman for Nick Brown.

- "We are not letting the French pick and choose where they take their beef from. We are all in this together." - Spokesman for the Scottish Executive.

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