The pressure on Tesco to adopt higher welfare standards for its chicken has turned political, with a cross party group of MPs urging consumers to boycott the retailer's chickens.

This follows on from Following on from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's failed bid at the recent Tesco AGM that would have seen the retailer ditch conventionally reared chickens.

Thirty-six cross-party MPs have signed an Early Day motion condemning the actions of Tesco's institutional shareholders in voting against Mr Fearnley Whittingstall's resolution.

The motion urges all other food retailers to adopt minimum standards equivalent to the RSPCA's Freedom Food scheme and in the meantime, urges consumers to boycott chickens at Tesco stores. It finally calls on the Government to make it a requirement for all those involved in chicken rearing to meet these minimum conditions.

MPs who signed up include Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor Vince Cable, Dennis Skinner and Keith Vaz.