Video
A no-deal Brexit would be ‘catastrophic’ for farmers, says NFU president
NFU president Minette Batters on Sky News. Photograph: Sky. - Credit: Archant
A no-deal Brexit would be 'absolutely disastrous' for agriculture and could force shepherds to slaughter their flocks, the National Farmers' Union has warned.
NFU president Minette Batters told Sky News the prospect of losing access to European markets for British lamb could devastate the industry.
A no-deal Brexit would be "catastrophic" for the farming sector as a whole, she said.
"It would be socially and economically absolutely disastrous for this sector," she told Sophy Ridge.
Using sheep farming as an example, she said there were 15 million breeding ewes in the United Kingdom and the country is the second largest producer of sheep meat in the world.
You may also want to watch:
"This is a high quality premium protein that we're not eating that amount in the UK.
"So, for many years now we've been exporting 40% of what we produce to France where this has been voted in as number one product in France, you know big demand by French families to buy British lamb."
Most Read
- 1 Jacob Rees-Mogg says it's 'all the EU's fault' musicians can't tour Europe
- 2 This chumocracy is costing our country
- 3 Bob Geldof takes swipe at No 10 saying 'lying is second nature' to them
- 4 Tory MP complains 'less scrutiny of trade deals' than when UK was in EU
- 5 Tory minister admits UK rejected EU's music visa offer in order to 'take back control' of borders
- 6 No 10 says Biden removing Churchill bust ‘up to president’ despite Obama attack
- 7 Piers Morgan tells Gavin Williamson to resign for being a 'catastrophe'
- 8 Priti Patel 'may have broken ministerial code' over border comments, suggests Keir Starmer
- 9 Who's on the BBC's Question Time tonight?
- 10 Government accused of 'foolishly gambling' on Trump agreeing post-Brexit mini deal before exit
In a no-deal situation "you cannot get over that tariff wall" so meat will not be exported, while imports from New Zealand will continue, creating an over-supply in the UK.
"There is of course a tariff schedule out, but you can't get your lamb into the European market that puts you into oversupply, that means that you will have many farmers going out of business and indeed you would have to look at slaughtering quite a large percentage of the national sheep flock."
Batters also criticised Boris Johnson for not responding to a letter from the NFU outlining their concerns.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.