Brussels flies into row over pesticides

The European Commission has been accused of meddling with UK farming after it introduced plans that would lead already cash-strapped consumers to face further food price increases. The proposals, agreed by EU farm ministers in June, will see 15pc of pesticides used by UK farmers phased out or banned across the continent. The move could see crop yields of potatoes and other vegetables slump by as much as 60pc, hitting consumers' pockets as prices triple as a result.