Politics

Brexit: Boris Johnson says farms will thrive as PM visits Wales


Boris Johnson in Barry IslandImage copyright
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Boris Johnson will meet Mark Drakeford to discuss Brexit

Boris Johnson will make his first visit to Wales as prime minister on Tuesday, as he tries to rally support for his plan for farming after Brexit.

He is expected to promise agriculture will thrive with new trade deals.

It follows the Farmers’ Union of Wales president warning of “civil unrest” in Welsh rural areas if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal.

He will also meet Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford, who said the PM has “no public mandate for a no-deal Brexit”.

Mr Johnson’s visit is the latest in his tour of the United Kingdom since becoming prime minister, after a trip to Scotland at the start of the week.

On Monday, the prime minister said there was “every chance” a Brexit deal with the EU could be struck, but the existing agreement with the EU has “got to go”.

But senior minister Michael Gove, who has been put in charge of preparing for no deal, has said the UK government was working on the assumption the UK would leave the EU without an agreement.

Mr Johnson’s visit to Wales comes as the Conservatives fight to hold the Brecon and Radnorshire seat in a by-election on Thursday.

Ahead of the visit, the prime minister said: “I will always back Britain’s great farmers and as we leave the EU we need to make sure that Brexit works for them.

“That means scrapping the Common Agricultural Policy and signing new trade deals – our amazing food and farming sector will be ready and waiting to continue selling ever more not just here but around the world.

“Once we leave the EU on 31 October, we will have a historic opportunity to introduce new schemes to support farming – and we will make sure that farmers get a better deal.”

The farming industry is worth more than £6bn to the Welsh economy and supports 14,000 businesses, 45,000 jobs and about 25,000 farmers.

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Media captionWhat is the food and farming sector worth to Wales? Here is a quick video guide.

Agriculture and what will replace CAP farming subsidies are devolved to the Welsh Government.

Ministers in Wales have proposed a grant scheme to replace EU funding, with farmers offered cash to carry out work that protects and enhances the environment.

Welsh farmers receive subsidies worth about £300m a year from the EU – it is not known how much cash will be available to support agriculture after Brexit.

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith

Boris Johnson probably faces a fairly bumpy ride today.

Farmers are desperate for clarity about what happens after Brexit because of all sectors it probably faces the biggest shake-up.

There’s obviously the exit from the Common Agricultural Policy, the uncertain future for subsidies – they’re only guaranteed until 2022 and it’s not clear what happens after that.

They’ll also face much more competition after Brexit – more opportunity too, but definitely more competition.

And if we end up leaving with no deal they’re likely to face very, very steep tariffs – there could be up to 30% on dairy products, 42% on lamb.

All of that means the new prime minister is going to face very tough questions and they’ll want to hear some answers.

Ahead of his meeting with Mr Johnson, Mr Drakeford said: “He has no public mandate for a no-deal Brexit, which would be catastrophic for Wales.

“If the UK does leave the EU, the UK government must work in close partnership with the Welsh Government to mitigate negative effects on Wales and its economy.”

But Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns accused the first minister of “inconsistency”.

He told BBC Radio Wales: “He urged people to vote against the deal Boris Johnson and I voted for, so you cannot be in a position where you complain about a no deal if you’re urging members of Parliament to vote against a deal. There’s some inconsistency there.”

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The new prime minister said the farming sector will thrive in post-Brexit Britain

A report commissioned by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Quality Meat Scotland and Meat Promotion Wales suggested beef and lamb exports to Europe could fall by about 92% in a no-deal scenario.

On Monday, Mr Johnson visited Faslane naval base in Scotland and announced £300m for three economic growth deals in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales – the Mid Wales Growth Deal.

It is not clear how much the mid Wales deal will receive – the UK government said it depended on the proposals put forward.

Meanwhile, two committees have been set up as the UK government intensifies preparations for a possible no-deal exit, including a “daily operations committee” of senior ministers.

On Monday, the pound sunk to a 28-month low against the dollar, apparently due to concerns about Brexit.



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