Thanks for that update on discards, Karen. I was a bit out of date. But it confirms what I was saying about the EU being behind the pace when bad things are being done (in agriculture AND fisheries). Farming and fishing people are out to make money, as business people, and taking the long view in matters of welfare, conservation and the environment often comes a very poor second. If we didn't stop farmers from using neonicotinoids, they wouldn't stop themselves and the bees would all disappear. If there weren't heavy penalties, our rivers would be filled with slurry. If we hadn't taken severe measures to put things right, our sausages would be coming from pigs bred in stalls too small for sows to turn over and kept in filthy Belsen-houses, and we'd be eating battery chicken. Not saying there aren't good farmers. But when you meet the typical farmer it's making money coming first, and other considerations are low down the priority list.

And those fish that are no longer thrown back, well they're largely made into fishmeal. Which feeds farmed fish. How nice. Don't get me started on fish farming.

Would it be any better if individual nations made up their own rules? Probably not. And if we're going to trade in agricultural and fish products with the EU (hopefully as members) we need common minimum standards in terms of environmental considerations, quality and welfare. My grouse is that, in these two areas, the EU has done a rotten job and either must get its act together or consider whether there's a better way. Not good enough!   And I'm still an avid remainer!