West of England Metro Mayor and animal welfare advocate Dan Norris has reacted with anger at reports that the government is likely to drop plans to ban imports of foie gras.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who lives in Mr Norris' West of England constituency, is reportedly objecting to a ban on imports of foie gras raising concerns about personal choice.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "Mr Rees- Mogg is standing up for a so called 'luxury' food made by force-feeding ducks and geese to fatten their livers. This isn't about personal choice and freedom it's about animal cruelty.

Mr Rees-Mogg's outdated views are a dead hand on business progress.

Instead of worrying about super-pricey cruel foods he should be supporting those West of England farmers and producers who embrace high welfare standards and produce top-quality meat.

So many local businesses I speak to see huge opportunities from the removal of unnecessary and avoidable animal cruelty in food production. They are keen to benefit from the creation of more civilised and decent welfare standards which are hugely popular with the public.

That requires the British government to both reject animal cruelty and accelerate higher animal welfare standards.

The West of England and the rest of the UK desperately needs a Government approach that fully rejects animal cruelty and focuses on the growing consumer attitudes that reject unnecessary harm to animals.

The removal of pain and suffering in food production will see British business expand apace."