Call for ‘unfettered’ access to single market

Britain’s farmers want full and “unfettered” access to the single market post-Brexit, the English National Farmers Union has stated.

Laying bare the key priorities of its membership, NFU president Meurig Raymond said it is high time the UK Government is acutely aware of what’s at stake for food and farming.

“If well executed, the whole of society and the economy can benefit from competitive, profitable and progressive farm businesses,” said Mr Raymond.

He said a consultation of England’s farming union members revealed the need for a new “bespoke” deal with the remainder of the EU.

“We want full unfettered access to the single market,” he added.

According to the ENFU, trading tariff-free has been hugely beneficial to both the UK and the EU, with 38% of British lamb ending up on the EU market.

“We will be working with other UK farming unions and partners across the farming and food chain to achieve this outcome,” Mr Raymond said.

He also said, in similarity to Scotland’s farmers, English cohorts want to see trade agreed on fair terms.

“We’re calling on ministers to ensure imported goods produced to lower standards or using practices banned in the UK are controlled,” said the ENFU president.

Access to a flexible and competent workforce is also top of the English farming agenda, with 80,000 seasonal employees on farms now.