Sturgeon and Gove engage in some Turriff talking on Brexit

Turriff Show can rarely, if ever, have attracted as may top politicians as it did on Monday.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was there to announce a £200,000 funding boost for Scotch Lamb promotion, but there was also an unannounced visit from Defra Secretary Michael Gove.

They may have been taking different routes round the show field to avoid bumping into each other, but were keen to stop and speak about Brexit.

Mr Gove defended the right of his Cabinet colleague, Liam Fox, the international trade minister, to warn of an odds-on “no-deal” Brexit, but at the same time he made very clear his support for the prime minister and the Chequers agreement.

He said: “Chequers works for the EU and the UK. It would give Europe tariff-free access to our markets and also tariff-free access for our goods into Europe. “It is the right approach.” As regards the possibility of no-deal, Mr Gove was adamant that it was not what he wanted, but conceded that it was correct to make preparations for “every eventuality”.

Challenged on the urgent need for a new Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS), Mr Gove said he had visited soft fruit farms in Angus and “understood the issues completely”.

He was to meet Home Secretary Sajid Javid in coming weeks.

“We will have something to say on this later in the year,” he said.

On the subject of Brexit, Ms Sturgeon said: “A no-deal scenario is unthinkable and I would like to see the prime minister rule it out as soon as possible.

“We have always argued that continued membership of the single market and the customs union is best.

“I am not happy with assurances over funding for future agricultural support. They are vague and time-limited.”

The first minister announced a further £200,000 of funding to boost Quality Meat Scotland’s campaign aimed at increasing home consumption of lamb.

Lamb consumption in Scotland languishes far behind the rest of the UK with less than 2kgs of annual consumption.

John Fyall, National Sheep Association chairman in Scotland, said: “If we could increase consumption even to the English level of 4kgs per head, that would be amazing.”