MP optimistic about good Brexit deal for farming and environment
A Brexit deal which provides essential support for farmers and quality food production, as well as the environment, is achievable, believes Devon MP Neil Parish.
Speaking at Agrifest South West earlier this week, the Tiverton and Honiton MP told beef and sheep farmers at the Exeter event that there was real “reason for optimism”, despite ongoing concerns over trade deals and the phasing out of direct subsidies.
“I can tell you that it smells different in Parliament at the moment,” he said. “I believe there is very much a will now to get this deal done, because we need to know what our future is going to be.
“I think the Irish border is still a sticking point but we are getting closer.”
He added: “I believe we can get it right. I think there is reason for optimism and I think a deal is coming. We can find our way through, by making sure that as much of the home market as possible is buying our great British products.”
Mr Parish, who chairs the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee, also used his speech at the “field to fork” event on Wednesday to reinforce the importance of food production and highlight again its lack of mention in the Government’s Agriculture Bill – a subject which has already sparked a great deal of debate in industry circles.
“The challenge as we move forward is to make sure we are producing a quantity of food that keeps all our processors, infrastructure and industry in place,” he explained. “If we want to see our environment and countryside like it is today it will need cattle, sheep and dairy cows, and it will need the farming that keeps it there.”
He added: “Farmers are the custodians of the countryside, they love their land and can produce great quality food.”
Making sure that cheap, lower quality food imports do not undermine Britain’s world-leading standards must also be a key priority for postBrexit negotiations, Mr Parish urged: “We have to make sure that we maintain support for agriculture and quality food, and as we drive for excellence and higher welfare standards we must also make sure that imported food meets those standards.
“That’s what we want on the face of the Agriculture Bill. I’m having a bit of difficulty with the Secretary of State (Michael Gove) over this at the moment, but we are definitely going to put that amendment to the Bill.”
He concluded: “Although it’s a challenging time and there are worries ahead, I believe the future will be good for us, provided we can embrace it and continue to produce great quality food.”
‘The Irish border is a sticking point but we are getting closer’
MP Neil Parish