Agriculture Minister quits over May’s threat of delay to Brexit
A MINISTER has quit the Government following Theresa May’s decision to allow MPs to vote on extending Brexit negotiations beyond the scheduled withdrawal date of 29 March.
Leave-backing Agriculture Minister George Eustice said he wanted to return to the backbenches “to be free to participate in the critical debate that will take place in the weeks ahead”.
He said Mrs May had undertaken a series of “undignified retreats” on Brexit and warned that prolonging the two-year Article 50 negotiation process could result in “the final humiliation of our country”, with the EU dictating the terms of any extension.
The Camborne and Redruth MP added that he would back Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement when it returns for another “meaningful vote” in the Commons on March 12.
But he also made it clear that he was ready to support a no-deal
Brexit if the agreement was rejected by MPs.
In a letter of resignation sent to the Prime Minister, he wrote: “I have stuck with the Government through a series of rather undignified retreats.
“However, I fear that developments this week will lead to a sequence of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country.
“I appreciate that you have been terribly undermined by those in Parliament who refuse to respect the referendum result. You have shown tenacity and resilience over the past year.
“However, what our country needs from all its political leaders at this critical juncture is courage, and we are about to find out whether Parliament has it.”
Mr Eustice was among Conservative Ministers who voted in favour of an amendment on Wednesday, paving the way for a potential vote to delay Brexit.
Mrs May’s decision to whip her MPs to support the amendment caused discontent among Leave-backing Tories, with 20 rebelling and scores abstaining.
It is understood that Mr Eustice spoke briefly by phone with Mrs May yesterday afternoon about his decision to quit.
FARMERS ARE already feeling the “stark” impacts of Brexit uncertainty, which is hitting trading contracts and crop planting, they have warned.
A lack of clarity over future trade with Europe means that arable businesses, whose grain exports are worth £514m a year, are now struggling to plan ahead and face the risks of a volatile grain market, the National Farmers’ Union said.
Matt Culley, who farms near Andover, Hampshire, said spring malting barley was a big part of his business, but he had lost a contract for export to Germany for the beer trade amid uncertainty over possible tariffs on trade after Brexit.
He is now only planting an area of land where he has contracts to supply spring barley for the domestic market, and is looking at growing some “niche” crops, such as millet for bird seed.
But he warned opportunities to grow niche crops were limited, while domestic prices for spring barley would be squeezed by a likely surplus as a result of a lack of exports.
Planting less land for barley also reduces the profitability of his business, making it harder to pay off his investments.
“The success of growing malting barley is seriously under threat,” he said.
The warning came as Leavebacking agriculture Minister George Eustice quit the Government, saying that he wanted to return to the backbenches “to be free to participate in the critical debate [on Brexit] that will take place in the weeks ahead”.
Mr Eustice won warm tributes from many Conservative MPs, including Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who said in a tweet: “So sorry to see George go. He has been a brilliant Minister and will remain a dear friend.
“He leaves an outstanding legacy, with the Agriculture and Fisheries Bills setting domestic policy for the first time in nearly 50 years. He will be very much missed.”
Mr Gove has previously admitted that farmers and food producers face “considerable turbulence” if the UK leaves the EU with no deal.
And reflecting on the future of farming post-Brexit, Mr Culley, the NFU’s national crops board chairman for the South East, raised concerns over whether UK grain farmers would be supported with import tariffs, or face imports of cheaper grain that does not meet the same standards to which the British barley crops were being grown.
“It shouldn’t be happening, we should know, we should have support because we’re exporting.
“It’s good for the economy, good for the balance of payments,” he said.
“The impacts are there, they are quite stark and quite real.”
Mr Culley said spring barley involved lower inputs such as fertiliser as it was in the ground for a shorter time than other crops such as autumn barley, and meant stubble was left over winter which provided food and cover for wildlife.
Without a trade deal with Europe, he said he would be having to make decisions about what crops to grow, which could have environmental impacts.