Hurrah for Europe! Alan Duncan has managed to save the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie.

The decision by the European Commission to grant Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) status means only pork pies made in the traditional manner and in and around Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire will be allowed to use the town’s name.

Little Al, the Shadow Business Secretary, gleefully tells the Press Association:

“This is great news. Like Champagne, we are the real quality product.
“It’s great that we are now protected against inferior alternatives.
“We are the home of England’s best food, and recognition of this is very welcome.”

Recognition is very important. As is declaration, as regular Recess Monkey readers will know.

Since at least 2002, the Tories have received almost £54,000 in donations from David Samworth and his company, Samworth Brothers. Amongst these donations, were £6,000 to the Rutland and Melton Conservative Association of ………Alan Duncan.

It’ll probably come as no surprise that Samworth Brothers are better known as the makers of Dickinson and Morris Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.

Alan Duncan MP tabled an Early Day Motion in 2005 urging the government to protect the name of the locally produced pork pie by supporting a campaign to become a protected designation of origin (PDO.)

He was so successful that he managed to get 163 - pretty much every Tory MP - to sign it.

Unfortunately for Duncan, whose brief covers compliance and regulations, it seems he failed to declare that donation in the Register of Members Interests.

Tory Pork Pies anyone?