At a session in Glasgow to take evidence on the June referendum’s impact on Scotland, Andrew McCornick, the vice-president of NFU Scotland, emphasised the importance of funding to farmers from the common agricultural policy.
Asked by Labour’s Stephen Hepburn how Brexit would affect Scottish farming, McCornick replied: “Our biggest market is in Europe. Our industry mindset has been towards accessing the common market. If we were to leave all those trade agreements we would have to start again, and if we exit we would not be sitting at the table for those negotiations.”
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has also suggested that the country’s farming industry could disappear from Britain like coal mining. The cabinet minister, a former miner, made the dire prediction in a speech at the Cambridge University Conservative Association, adding to recent warnings by the remain campaign about the potential economic impact of Brexit.
“When I was young, people didn’t think mining would ever end,” he said. “I hear the Brexiteers make the same case about car manufacturing and farming today. Just as the under-educated and least well-off suffered worst from Labour’s great recession after 2008. So they would be first to feel the pain of our departure from the EU.”
Whether you farm cattle, arable, hill sheep, market gardening or a combination we’d like to hear how you will be affected. What’s the farming community like where you are? What do you think of current EU subsidies? Are you pro-Europe or do you think the industry will benefit from leaving? Wherever you live in the UK share your views with us by filling in our form below. We’ll feature some of your contribution in our ongoing reporting.
