Boris Johnson backs ‘Britain’s great farmers’

During a visit to farmers in Wales this week regarding Brexit plans, Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued his support to ‘Britain’s great farmers’, while planning to scrap the Common Agriculture Policy.

As the pound dropped to a two-year low against the US dollar over nerves on a no-deal Brexit, Boris Johnson issued his support to British farmers, saying that scrapping the Common Agricultural Policy would make way for “enormous opportunities for our country”.

Mr Johnson said in a statement, “our amazing food and farming sector will be ready and waiting to continue selling ever more, not just here but around the world.”

However, the NFU has expressed its concern of what the future holds for British agricultural businesses, as Chancellor Michael Gove announced that the government is working “on the assumption” of a no-deal Brexit.  NFU President, Minette Batters said, “a no-deal scenario would be catastrophic for British Agriculture. A scenario where farmers face an immediate trade embargo for many of their products would have devastating effects and would severely threaten livelihoods and businesses.”

But the UK Premier has stated that now is the time for optimism, adding, “we will have a historic opportunity to introduce new schemes to support farming – and we will make sure that farmers get a better deal”.

While no-deal Brexit will have a temporary negative affect on agricultural trade within the EU due to import and export restrictions, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has said that new markets, such the growing export of lamb to Japan, will be crucial to the future of farming.

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