Farming and fishing chiefs call for Scots MPs to back Chequers deal

SCOTLAND’S politicians must back Theresa May’s Chequers deal, according to farming and fishing bosses.

MPs yesterday heard those working in the food and drink industry fear leaving the EU with no deal.

While they admit the Prime Minister’s plan ‘isn’t perfect’, they believe it is workable.

Appearing before Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee, Jonnie Hall, director of policy and member services at NFU Scotland, said MPs who reject Mrs May’s plan will be putting businesses at risk.

East Renfrewshire Tory MP Paul Masterton asked him if the Scottish Government’s refusal to back the deal, with the SNP threatening to vote against it in the House of Commons, would be seen as a ‘deliberate decision’ that could harm vital sectors such as fishing and farming.

Mr Hall said: ‘I think that’s absolutely right. We would love to see all the party politics getting stripped out of this and some pragmatism coming to the fore and saying, “We need the right outcome for British and Scottish agriculture and the food and drinks sectors.

‘Chequers isn’t perfect, probably for anybody, but it is something that certainly the agriculture and food and drink sectors can work with.’

Banff and Buchan Tory MP David Duguid said: ‘The NFU Scotland are right. At this vital time, people want politicians in the UK to come together to secure the best Brexit deal possible.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Brexit is the biggest risk to the Scottish farming and fisheries sectors in a generation. We believe continued membership of the EU is the best option for our future path; or failing that, membership of the European single market and customs union.’

‘Strip out all the party politics’