Bake Off judge Prue Leith has reportedly left the Conservative Party after the government rejected an amendment to the Agriculture Bill that would have protected UK food standards. The 80-year-old had previously urged the government not to allow imports of inferior food from the United States after Brexit.
Last Monday, MPs voted down the amendment, which aimed to safeguard British farmers from competition with lower-standard imports. Following the rejection, it has been reported that Leith cancelled her party membership, though she has not publicly addressed the claims. Her son, Danny Kruger, the Conservative MP for Devizes, voted with the government on the bill.
The amendment was prompted by concerns that chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated beef could enter the UK market from the US. Environment minister Victoria Prentis defended the rejection, stating that the government is 'absolutely committed to high standards' and that existing laws would protect them. She dismissed fears of imported chlorine-washed chicken as 'fear-mongering'.
Last month, Leith expressed sympathy for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's handling of the pandemic, acknowledging that 'nobody's ever done this before'. Metro.co.uk contacted Leith's representative, who declined to comment.
