Rallying call to EU counterparts

UK producers are enrolling the help of their fellow farmers across Europe in their attempt to ensure that Britain avoids a “no deal” Brexit.

Faced with ongoing division amongst politicians and continued uncertainty, the presidents of NFU Scotland, Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU and NFU Cymru have written to the presidents of farming unions in Europe stating their unequivocal position that a no deal exit would be economically disastrous.

Making it plain that would be in every nation’s interest to avoid what they termed a “catastrophic and disorderly” exit of the UK from the EU.

In advance of today’s meeting between UK Prime Minister Theresa May and the European Council NFU Scotland president Andrew Mccornick, said: “For months now we have been calling for clarity.

“It is crucial politicians in the UK and across Europe prioritise the needs of businesses and the welfare and long-term prosperity of the agri-food sector.

“Like all EU farming Unions, our organisations represent thousands of farming families and it is unbelievable and unacceptable that we are still operating without any certainty on a future trading relationship.”

He said this was having real world business consequences as well as causing unnecessary stress and huge anxiety for farmers, both at home and across the EU, who didn’t know what trading conditions they will be operating under in the future:

“We know many farming unions in Europe share many of our views and are equally concerned about the impact of Brexit on their own farming sectors. We now urge them to continue to relay that message to their Heads of State in the strongest possible manner.”