Brexit politicians irresponsible says Oswestry farmer
A Shropshire farmer says the agricultural industry is going into Brexit completely blind because of the irresponsibility of politicians.
Former NFU county chairman, Malcolm Roberts, says the government has had two and a half years to sort out post Brexit plans.
"Yet we are no nearer knowing what is going to happen on March 29,"he said.
Mr Roberts farms near Oswestry and at the moment is in the middle of lambing season.
He says sheep farmers could be particularly hit.
"Sheep farmers across the UK export between 30-40 per cent of their lambs and the vast majority of the export market is Europe," he said.
"Sheep farming is seasonable and farmers have to plan in advance. Yet as lambs are being born ready for the spring we are going into March 29 completely blind.
"The politicians are being completely irresponsible going right to the wire in making any decisions. They are dealing with people's livelihoods and yet our uncertainty is off the scale. It is a damned disgrace."
Mr Roberts stressed that it was not a case of how any individual voted.
"It is also not a question of deal or no deal, this just needs sorting out one way or another. Once we have a firm plan then we can adapt our industry to whatever the future holds."
He said the uncertainty was not just for agriculture but right across the board.
"Every industry is sitting waiting to see what will happen. "
"It is the small businesses, like farming families, that could be affected the most. We are not giving the young people in our industry any confidence for the future.
The farmer said that he was also worried about the knock-on affect of a slump in agriculture would have on the county.
"Rural counties like Shropshire are dependent on good, prosperous farming businesses," he said.
"Mechanics, agricultural suppliers, fuel stations, so many businesses depend on farmers."
In his roles within the NFU Mr Roberts has sat in on round-the-table talks between the NFU and government ministers.
"We have had in-depth talks with the agricultural minister yet we know no more than the general public know. The minister knows that we need free and frictionless access to the European market but he can not say this is what we are going to get.
"It may be that the government has something up its sleeve but so close to March 29 I just don't see it."
