The chief of the National Sheep Association (NSA) has expressed concern over the appointment of Michael Gove as Defra Secretary of State.
According to NSA chief executive Phil Stocker, the association immediately received “an alarming number of concerned contact” from members following Mr Gove’s appointment as Environment Secretary earlier this week.
“We share this concern and are asking Mr Gove to urgently give the sheep industry some confidence that he understands the value of our sector – I’d like to see an immediate commitment to achieve tariff free trade routes into the EU post Brexit,” said Mr Stocker.
He called on Mr Gove to immediately get up to speed on the issues facing the sheep sector and give assurances of his understanding of the sector ahead of Brexit negotiations.
“There are two distinctly differing views within senior members of Government – those who advocate raising production standards and quality and those who see Brexit as a chance to import increasingly cheaper food into the UK,” said Mr Stocker.
“Just over a year ago Michael Gove showed he was clearly in the cheap import camp while being interviewed on BBC Radio 4. Any Secretary of State with a responsibility for Britain’s farming and food agenda cannot move forward with that vision for the future, we need some clear statements of intent urgently.”
Earlier this week NFU Scotland called on Mr Gove to attend next week’s Royal Highland Show to meet farmers and get an understanding of the sector.
The NFU south of the border also wrote an open letter to the new Secretary of State highlighting the importance of agriculture to the economy.
In the letter, president Meurig Raymond, tells Mr Gove that for every £1 invested, farming delivers around £7 back to the economy.
