Farm industry leaders ‘wrong’ to be worried about no-deal Brexit, says Eustice

Mr Eustice, who has said he will back the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement, went on to claim food prices would only suffer a ‘small jolt’ in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

“We will be aiming through our tariff policy to keep food prices stable, but the biggest impact on food prices will be exchange rates, and if there was a 10 per cent devaluation in sterling, that might increase food prices by about 2.5 per cent,” he said.

“To put that into context, food prices go up for down by 5-10 per cent in any typical year, so it is a relatively small jolt but it is nevertheless a jolt which is why we obviously want an agreement.”

Furious

Vicki Hird, head of farming at the Sustain food alliance, told Farmers Guardian many people would be ‘furious and confused’ Mr Eustice had dismissed their concerns about food standards and supply in a no-deal Brexit.

“Even his old boss Michael Gove commented recently about how catastrophic a no deal will be,” she said.

“Whatever the quality of planning which may be happening at Defra, this felt like a betrayal of thousands of farm businesses he once was Minister for, who will be at the mercy of currency fluctuations, unknown tariff decisions and vague suggestions of support.

“He should do everything now to avoid a no deal situation.”

Thoughts on a new Defra Minister? Who’s your money on? Few possibles... Caroline Johnson (knows brief, woman)
Kemi Badenoch (rising star, BAME)
Tracey Crouch (return to frontbench after resignation over FOBTs)
James Cartlidge (rural seat, pragmatic on Brexit) 1/2

— Abi Kay (@FGAbiKay)

Thoughts on a new Defra Minister? Who's your money on? Few possibles... Caroline Johnson (knows brief, woman)
Kemi Badenoch (rising star, BAME)
Tracey Crouch (return to frontbench after resignation over FOBTs)
James Cartlidge (rural seat, pragmatic on Brexit) 1/2

— Abi Kay (@FGAbiKay) March 4, 2019