Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett is spending much of her time at the moment touring TV and radio studios in a desperate rearguard action to defend the government's increasingly threadbare accounts of its case for war with Iraq. The Government's former environment minister, Michael Meacher, has described GM crops as Iraq Mk II.

And he's not the only former minister raising questions over the evidence, as this article notes:

EXCERPT: 'Labour former minister Tony Lloyd said the public was "considerably sceptical" about the value of GM crops.

Crop-contamination could have an "irretrievable" long-term impact and do "permanent damage" to the economy and agricultural system.

"Will you lay the scientific evidence very clearly before the public if you want to convince this doubting public that there is benefit in GM crop plantings?" he asked.'
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Growing public unease over GM crops
Evening Standard, Thurs Feb 5th 2004
http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=207451&in_page_id=169

The Government has been warned of "widespread unease" over "incremental" steps being taken towards the introduction of GM crops in the UK.

Liberal Democrats told the Commons such a "momentous and irreversible" decision was supported by only 2% of the public.

But Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett denied the Government was trying to pre-empt the outcome of ongoing research "through stealth".

She told MPs at question time: "In a world where GM is extensively grown, and extensively available, we have to deal with the reality of its existence and not hope that it can somehow be wished away."

Ministers are considering reports and advice on farm scale evaluations and are due to set out conclusions "shortly."

European Union governments were last week given 90 days to decide on lifting their five-year-old moratorium on GM foods.

If they do not act by then, the European Commission will be able to make the decision itself.

The proposal was the first to be considered since EU governments enacted strict labelling and traceability rules for products with genetically modified ingredients last summer.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Andrew George today told MPs the Government had in Europe agreed to use of GM maize even though just 2% of the British public supported GM in all circumstances.

He warned: "There is widespread unease that that and other incremental steps are being made towards what will become a momentous and irreversible decision."

Ms Beckett told Commons she was not trying to "pre-empt" the outcome of decisions or to make major decisions before setting out policy.

The Government would continue to raise questions and queries on GM in the wider European debate, she said.

Labour former minister Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central) said the public was "considerably sceptical" about the value of GM crops.

Crop-contamination could have an "irretrievable" long-term impact and do "permanent damage" to the economy and agricultural system.

"Will you lay the scientific evidence very clearly before the public if you want to convince this doubting public that there is benefit in GM crop plantings?" he asked.