Brexit would threaten UK sheep industry - Truss

Mrs Truss said: “Sheep farmers in Cumbria and across the uplands are a vital part of the British countryside, but without the benefits the industry enjoys from our membership of the EU the very future of this iconic industry could be under threat.

“The single market is essential for British lamb - forty per cent of all the lamb reared in the UK goes to Europe. Outside the European Union, farmers could face quotas and tariffs as well as a red tape double whammy of having to follow both UK and EU rules."

“Less trade could result in significant price falls, damaging the incomes of the 10,000 sheep farmers who depend on it."

She warned these impacts would be particularly felt by hill farmers such as those in Cumbria, as 40 per cent of the UK’s sheep breeding flocks are based in the uplands.

Leap in the dark

She added: ""This makes a vote to leave the EU a huge leap into the dark for our food and farming industry and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of British farmers.”

John Geldard, the owner of the farm near Kendal where Mrs Truss was due to visit and a former Chair of the National Sheep Association, said:

“An exit would mean sleep walking in to the unknown, a totally unacceptable scenario. Many sheep farming and rural businesses are working on very thin margins with little spare capacity.

“To exit the EU with an accompanying four to five years of complete uncertainty would be reckless. To remain in the EU would ensure security and strengthen our current positioning.”

Free trade deal

But Mr Eustice dismissed the claims, insisting the EU would be keen to negotiate a new free trade agreement.

He said: "Putting in place a free trade agreement once we leave will be very easy to achieve.

"We export £7.5 billion worth of food to the EU but we import food worth £18 billion from the EU. We have a trade deficit with the EU in food alone of £10 billion.

"They need us more than we need them and that gives us the upper hand in any subsequent negotiations about market access.

"Why would the EU give up another £10 billion when they would have already lost the £350 million per week that British tax payers donate to the EU budget?"