This week is Royal Cornwall
Show week and, like most of the shows, one issue is dominating discussion: the
referendum. I will be attending on Friday and taking part in several
debates to explain why I believe that Cornish agriculture and the wider food
industry in Cornwall will be better off if we vote to leave the EU on 23rd
June.
The UK government will continue to give farmers and
the environment as much support - or perhaps even more- as they get now. The
Prime Minister has made this clear and I agree with him. After all, non-EU
countries such as Switzerland and Norway actually give more support to their
farmers than we do. In the scheme of things, the amount of money spent on our
countryside and wildlife is very modest when compared with spending on other
departments. But we could spend our money more effectively if we had
control.
We will also maintain a free trade agreement.
Last year, we exported £7.5 billion worth of food to the EU but we imported
food worth £18 billion. We have an annual trade deficit with the EU in
food alone of £10 billion, meaning that EU member states need a free trade deal
as much as or more than we do.
In Cornwall, companies like
Lynher Dairies have created new markets with their highly acclaimed Cornish
Yarg. Rodda’s Cream are creating new export markets, and Falfish have ensured
that Cornwall is the market leader for many fish species. These great companies
will continue to do well because they have strong brands and fantastic high
quality products that the rest of the world wants to buy.
I have fond memories of the
Royal Cornwall Show, and my family used to show our South Devon Cattle there.
My brother and father will be there this year, showing the family’s rare breed
Lop Eared Pigs. I am very much looking forward to it.
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