I CANNOT believe that this barbaric trade is still going on — but it is. Every year this country sends thousands of live calves overseas for slaughter, and some of them are enduring nightmare journeys as far as North Africa.

They are jammed together in the dark. They are terrified.

6 Every year this country sends thousands of live calves overseas for slaughter, and some of them are enduring nightmare journeys as far as North Africa

They slip and slide in their own excrement as the boats buck in the swell. They travel for more than 100 hours in conditions of such extreme discomfort that campaigners have been protesting for decades.

The animals know they are going to die — and they are going to die far from home.

They are sent for slaughter from Scotland to Ireland to Spain and then to Libya — because veal from a male calf, freshly slaughtered, is apparently more valuable in Libya than it is in the UK.

According to Dr Nick Palmer of Compassion in World Farming, the trade is running at about 5,500 pre-weaned calves per year, and it is growing again after live UK exports were shunned during the foot and mouth epidemic of the mid-1990s.

It is a trade the British public overwhelmingly would like to ban.

6 The animals know they are going to die — and they are going to die far from home Credit: Imagebroker - Getty

For many years we were told that such a ban was impossible; because the rules on shipment of animals is controlled by the EU, and a UK ban on live animal transport would be against basic EU law on the free movement of goods.

I remember 25 years ago how a previous Tory government tried to end the trade. Brussels said no — and the government looked foolish.

Animal welfare campaigners were indignant at the powerlessness of their own government. So was the public — and so was I: See my article of the time.

6 Michael Gove previously said the Government would consider 'all options' to ensure Britain provides animal with the highest possible walfare standards Credit: PA:Press Association

So when the people of this country voted to leave the EU, it seemed obvious that we would at last be able to end the suffering of these animals.

What else could we conceivably mean by taking back control of our laws?

The prospect of a ban on live animal transport is even mentioned in the so-called Chequers white paper. Indeed, the ban has been promised over and over again.

And now what? I am afraid to say that our hopes will almost certainly be dashed by the appalling sell-out that we are about to sign.

6 The live animals are sent for slaughter from Scotland to Ireland to Spain and then to Libya Credit: Alamy

Under the so-called backstop arrangement, the whole of the UK remains in the customs union and we continue to accept all EU laws on goods and agri-foods — with no ability to shape those laws.

As the deal makes explicit, Brussels will keep making law on animal health and welfare for Northern Ireland and by extension all of the UK, unless we want to allow Northern Ireland to be economically amputated from the UK.

According to Dr Palmer, that will almost certainly make a UK ban impossible. The Government might propose a prohibition on the shipment of live animals. Parliament might pass it.

6 Under the terms of the 'sell-out' deal, The European Court of Justice would most likely overrule any ban on the export of live animals put in place by the UK Credit: Reuters

But an operator who wanted to continue to take live animals for long distances overseas would be within his rights to take the Government to court — and the ultimate arbiter of the case would be the European Court of Justice.

And the European Court would be very likely to rule in favour of the basic principles of free movement of goods.

As Dr Palmer puts it with some understatement: “We feel very let down.”

The grim truth is that if we agree to this humiliation, we will not be taking back control of our law, our borders, and we certainly will not be able to do global free trade deals.

This is not Brexit. This is a form of economic servitude. We will not only be forced to obey all EU law on free movement of goods — including animals — but we will have absolutely no way of protesting and trying to explain the point of view of the UK Government.

6 This is a trade the British public overwhelmingly would like to ban Credit: EPA

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In the past we at least had a judge in the European court. We had officials in the commission, and representatives in the council of ministers.

We had a way of expressing the views of the British public.

Now we have no way of showing our dismay at the treatment of these animals — except by throwing out this apology of a Withdrawal Agreement.

It is time to follow the instructions of the British people. It is time to take back control. It is time to ban the export of live animals.

I hope MPs will vote down this deal — and finally give Britain the power to end this suffering now.