‘Farms need policy – not soundbites’
Industry desperate for Brexit clarity
THERESA MAY was last night celebrating a Brexit breakthrough – but agricultural leaders have demanded that the Government urgently “adds substance to soundbites” to give British farming an overdue sense of direction with less than nine months to go before the UK leaves the EU.
In a meeting of senior Ministers at Chequers, Mrs May looked to have tentatively united a split Cabinet behind a plan for new UK-European Union free trade area for goods – and seen off the prospect of resignations from hardline Brexiteers.
But uncertainty about Whitehall’s vision for agriculture has seen frustration deepen among farmers who had been optimistic for their livelihoods outside of the European Union, according to one dairy sector boss.
Recent farmgate price uplifts do not compensate for uncertainty over future trade and access to foreign labour which undermines farmers’ plans, industry leaders warned, with livestock being reared and crops sown with no real clarity over the markets they will serve after March 2019.
Mike King, chairman of The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, said: “There are a lot of great soundbites from the politicians but very little substance.
“They have listened to environmental NGOs and farmers but we are still waiting to see how the Government will marry these aspirations together.”
The industry gathers at this week’s Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. On the prevailing mood, Mr King said: “There’s more pessimism initially, when we knew we were leaving Europe. There are a number of people who were saying this could be an opportunity who are now worried. It’s a lack of information, that’s the big thing. What we are looking for is direction.”
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said his sector’s big question was over the future of trade and it remains “completely unanswered”.
“We need ongoing access to the European market,” he said.
Growers are concerned too, said Guy Poskitt, a member of the National Farmers’ Union’s horticulture and potatoes board who grows root vegetables near Goole.
“We feel we know no more than we did about what’s going to happen after Brexit than we did two years ago,” Mr Poskitt said.
Richard Lister, chairman of the National Pig Association, questioned the Government’s inaction to address the shortage of foreign labour affecting farming.
“The Government has still not come forward with a solution while businesses have borne the brunt,” said Mr Lister, who farms in Boroughbridge.
A Defra spokesman said: “Leaving the EU gives us the opportunity to shape the future of our farming industry and improve the support we give to Britain’s farmers.”
A NEW UK-European Union free trade area for goods will be created under Brexit plans thrashed out by Ministers at Chequers.
The proposals, agreed after Theresa May summoned senior Ministers to decide on plans for the future relationship with Brussels, will see the UK agree to remain in line with the EU on rules for all goods.
But under the Government’s plans the UK would be free to diverge from EU rules over services, a major part of the British economy, with Ministers acknowledging this will reduce the levels of access available to European markets.
Brussels will be reluctant to consider any plan which would risk splitting the single market, and Ministers appeared to acknowledge this by agreeing to step up preparations for a “nodeal” Brexit.
But Mrs May said she hoped the proposals would enable talks with the EU to move forward.
Going into Chequers the Cabinet was split, with Brexit Secretary David Davis understood to have major reservations about both the plan and whether Brussels would even consider it seriously.
But it is understood that all members of the Cabinet have signed up to the proposals and none of them have decided to quit rather than back the plan.
The “common rulebook” for goods could reduce the UK’s flexibility to strike trade deals with other countries, particularly the US which would want an agreement allowing its farm products, produced to different standards, into the British market.
It would also involve the UK paying “due regard” to European Court of Justice rulings relating to the rules Britain will share with Brussels, potentially softening the Prime Minister’s red line on the jurisdiction of judges in Luxembourg. But the Prime Minister said the Cabinet had agreed a “collective position” on the future of the negotiations with the EU.
“Our proposal will create a UKEU free trade area which establishes a common rule book for industrial goods and agricultural products,” she said.
“This maintains high standards in these areas, but we will also ensure that no new changes in the future take place without the approval of our Parliament.
“As a result, we avoid friction in terms of trade, which protects jobs and livelihoods, as well as meeting our commitments in Northern Ireland. We have also agreed a new business-friendly customs model with freedom to strike new trade deals around the world. Next week we will be publishing a White Paper which will set out more details of how we will be taking back control of our money, laws and borders.
“Now we must all move at pace to negotiate our proposal with the EU to deliver the prosperous and secure future all our people deserve.”
Now we must all move at pace to negotiate our proposal with the EU. Theresa May.
Ahead of the formal announcement of the deal, Tory Brexiteers warned that Mrs May’s position could be under threat if she watered down her red lines.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: “It is farcical that it has taken two years for the Cabinet to even attempt to agree a position on the basics of our future relationship with the EU.
“On previous form, whatever has apparently been agreed will struggle to survive contact with Tory MPs and members.
“This looks like a sticking plaster rather than the Government’s final position. With just a matter of months of the negotiations left, Theresa May’s ability to deliver Brexit continues to be in doubt.”