THE common Agriculture Policy or CAP as it is known is not and never has been perfect; but it does not mean that it can be blamed for the ills of the world.

Come in Gordon Brown, some charity groups and Peter Mandelson - all of whom have been known to believe the CAP is largely responsible for many of the ills of the world's poorest countries. This is all good knock-about stuff and would not normally be too serious. But, because the World Trade Organisation is in the midst of its negotiations, to heap blame on the CAP becomes serious. The industry does not need politicians trying to brand the CAP a selfish policy. They should have more sense than to think damaging the interests of European farmers is bound to help farmers in poor countries. There is an old country saying that goes like this: you can't strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

If you think Gordon Brown and the others are right then so be it, but I'm not wrong. Let's look at the big picture and you'll see what I mean.

The EU imports more from developing countries, than the USA Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan combined. And think on this, Europe is removing all tariffs for the poorest countries through the "Everything but Arms" initiative.

The new WTO deal will affect UK farmers as much as the reform of the CAP so now is not the time for careless talk by politicians. When Peter Mandelson was appointed an EU commissioner he was one of the chorus criticising the CAP for the damage it was doing to developing countries.

He subsequently admitted this was wrong, and declared he would be fully supporting EU policy of defending the CAP and decoupled payments against WTO attack.

Lately he has been copping it for calling on Europe to reduce it's health standard for food products (can you believe it) in order to make it easier for developing countries to get into the market. I repeat, you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. As he well knows, EU policy is for others to raise their game rather than for the EU to lower its standards for consumer protection.

As EU trade commissioner, Mandelson needs to be reminded that his job is to represent the EU and not the Labour Party.

While, as I have said before, we cannot rely on "our lot" representing our interest in the EU, the commissioner has to fight for the EU policy and its people whether he likes it or not. He has to realise that others in the WTO talks will be fighting to defend their agricultural and trade interest; he is expected to make a good job of defending ours. As Peter Mandelson is acknowledged as having outstanding negotiating skills, I hope we can now count on him to use them on our behalf.

It's all right, I haven't become a European overnight, but in the WTO it is all we have got, so let's hope it does us all some good.

Dialect word: Smittle meaning infectious or contagious (Thanks Brian).

Thought for the day: The person who keeps pulling on the oars doesn't have time to rock the boat.