New PM will be ‘tough enough’ for farmers
Prime Minister Theresa May is “tough enough” to get a good deal for Scarborough and Yorkshire farmers in a post-Brexit Europe, the environment secretary Liz Truss said at the Great Yorkshire Show on Wednesday.
Mrs Truss, who was visiting the show to promote a £150,000 government fund aimed at creating a network of “foodie trails” for tourists, said the new prime minister had “the toughness we need to get a good deal in Europe for farming.”
The Defra secretary, who was awaiting her assignment in the new government, added: “She is very committed to farming and to rural communities.”
Mrs Truss insisted it was “business as usual” for farmers and said the Brexit vote represented an opportunity for the farming community.
She said: “The British people have voted to leave the European Union. We are determined to make a success of it.
“We will use the opportunity to create a British food and farming policy, a British environment policy to support farmers, rural communities and our fantastic landscape.”
Mrs May became Prime Minister yesterday when David Cameron officially stepped down from the position.
She was the only candidate remaining following Andrea Leadsom’s decision to pull out of the leadership contest.
Scarborough MP Robert Godd will supported the new Prime Minster after previously backing candidates Dr Liam Fox.
Meanwhile, Scarborough’s branch of the Labour Party is backing embattled leader Jeremy Corbyn.
A spokesman said: “Almost 90 per cent of people attending gave their wholehearted support to the motion [that] this branch 100 per cent supports Jeremy Corbyn.”