10:16am Wednesday 9th May 2007
MINISTERS have successfully fought off a move to change the size of Britain's bread.
Continent bosses were keen to standardise sizes across the European Union, meaning that our traditional loaf and its dimensions would be, so to speak, toast.
But Conservative MEPs have successfully changed the European directive - allowing British bread to continue being sold in the sizes customers know and love.
It is the second time the directive on 'Nominal Quantities for Pre-Packed Products' has come before the European Parliament.
Last time Conservative MEPs got the traditional pint of milk excluded from the standardisation plans.
Neil Parish, south west Conservative MEP, said such traditions 'make us who we are'. He said: "British people are used to buying their pre-packaged bread in traditional sizes and will be able to carry on doing so.
"British bakers will soon be able to maintain the loaf sizes people are used to, while having the freedom to opt for other sizes if they wish."
Bakery workers and customers in Weymouth were fully in support.
Amy Dawes, 21, who works for Bob's Sandwich Bar in St Mary Street, called it 'a good move'.
"We should stay individual, Europe are trying to take away our choices," she said. "First it was milk, now it's bread. This is going to happen more and more so we must keep fighting."
Anne Sinkins, 68, from Weymouth, said: "I think Europe dictates to us too much these days. The world's going mad. It's such a little thing, does the size of bread really matter? Having said that, I think it's important in principle that we defend things like this."
Former merchant navy seaman Deryk Parker, 80, from Weymouth, said: "We should get on with it and carry on like we were. I feel quite strongly about this, we're not supposed to be a part of Europe. We're Great Britain and we should stay that way."
Lindsey Stone, 49, works at the Dorset Cake Company bakery in Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth. She said: "We should keep our bread British. This is just daft, it will be our underwear next. We need to keep these things the way they are - we shouldn't go into the euro either."
Wendy Derbyshire, who works at the Dorset Cake Company's branch in Portland Road, Wyke Regis, said: "We're quite happy as we are. We've plodded along happily on our own for years - why change now? It's important to protect Great Britain's traditions, otherwise the next generation won't have any of the good old days left."
Bakery customer Viv Hawkins, 75, from Portland, echoed Mrs Derbyshire's sentiments. "There's no way we should change," she added. "It's important to protect traditions such as the loaf of bread."
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