Speech lands Prince in Gatt row
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.PARIS (AFP) - The Prince of Wales came under attack from Conservative and Labour MPs last night after he appeared to give public backing to the cause of French farmers and France's opposition to the Gatt trade deal.
Prince Charles, speaking in French on his honorary induction into the Academy of Political and Moral Sciences, praised France's rural heritage - widely held to be uneconomic: 'Because of the imperatives of trade . . . do we really need to compress the traditions and vitality of rural life and culture into the straightjacket of an industry like any other?
'One of the joys for me of being in France is that you have a particularly strong sense of those traditions . . . .
'France sets the rest of us an inspiring example . . . by giving due importance to the kind of rural traditions without which it would be impossible to enjoy a way of life that recognises, both in the countryside and in the town, the importance of elements in our lives which enrich and enoble us, but which are not 'cost-effective' in strictly economic terms.'
The Prince said he had a hard time deciding on the theme of his speech, and had been given the following advice: 'Above all, don't mention the Gatt talks, neither the Community budget, nor the Maastricht treaty.'
Harry Cohen, Labour MP for Leyton, said: 'Supporting uneconomic farmers risks inflaming the row over the Gatt deal to bursting point and encouraging the French farmers in their opposition to the deal. It was an unwise thing to say and it was not in Britain's interest to say it.'
Dr Robert Spink, Tory MP for Castle Point, said: 'The Prince should be defending the people of this country who have to pay pounds 16 a week per family extra on average to support the French farmers and their food mountains.'
Buckingham Palace described the criticism as 'pure interpretation' and said the critics had 'got it wrong'.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments