Ellie Newis reviews two of the flagship free trade agreements that were supposed to reignite the UK economy.
The “blind optimism” shown by UK government ministers in their plans for the future of England’s farms could result in many small and tenant farmers being forced out of business, a parliamentary report has warned.
Farmers have held a protest outside government offices in York over claims the pig industry is at risk of collapse.
One year after Brexit, Scotland’s fishing industry is still mired in chaos, leaving many businesses fearing for their future as deliveries to Europe continue to be snarled in costly red tape and delays.
MPs on the Commons spending watchdog have accused Environment Secretary George Eustice of “blind optimism” to suggest otherwise.
A new parliamentary report warned the “blind optimism” shown by Tory ministers could force many small and tenant farmers in England out of business - but environment secretary George Eustice insists UK farmers are better off since Brexit.
‘Haphazard’ shift to post-Brexit payments scheme could put farmers out of business, MPs say
28/10/2021
Government must engage more coherently with farmers, or new plans will ‘fall at first hurdle’, committee warns.
The number of seasonal workers applying to work at one Kent-based company is down 90% in the last two years and there are fears for the future.
As changes wrought by Brexit slash and burn £1.8bn of direct payments to English farmers by 2027, experts warn that government optimism over agriculture in England is dangerously misplaced.
Government scheme to replace EU agricultural payments fuelled by ‘blind optimism’ and still lacking crucial details, say MPs.
The fisheries minister has refused to say sorry for the government's handling of the post-Brexit shellfish saga amid tough questions from exporters whose sales to the European Union have been torpedoed since the New Year.
The Brexit trade deal hailed as a £148 million boost to the UK fishing fleet over the next five years will instead punish the industry to the tune of more than £300m, a new report says.
Ruptures have once again emerged across government over the direction of the UK’s post-Brexit trade policy, with environment secretary George Eustice raising concerns about a potential deal with India.
Call in army to get goods to shops after driver shortage sparked by Brexit and Covid, government told [1 min]
03/07/2021
Fears of ‘unimaginable’ supply chain collapse triggered by 60,000-strong shortfall of HGV drivers.
Disbelief and outrage across EU as UK says it won’t do anything to stop end to Brexit food checks in Northern Ireland
03/02/2022
European media responded with shock and disbelief this morning after a minister in Northern Ireland ordered to end checks on food in his country and the UK declared it won’t do anything about it.
Instead of protecting the natural world, the proposed Office for Environmental Protection ‘could undermine the rule of law’, and lead to worse damage than under EU, lawyers say
The government is planning to water down the regulatory requirements on key chemicals, in what experts fear could be the first move to a weaker post-Brexit safety regime for potentially toxic substances.
Vegetables discarded in field due to Brexit and Covid as divorce bill £5bn higher than expected
09/07/2021
It comes as the Brexit "divorce bill" negotiated by the PM is up to £5 billion higher than the UK government expected.
Food safety in a post-Brexit UK
07/11/2022
Erik Millstone examines the precarious nature of food safety in the UK after the Brexit referendum and points out that prevention is always better than cure.
No-deal Brexit panic after ministers realise the UK doesn't have the right pallets for exporting to the EU
26/02/2019
The UK government is due to hold emergency talks with industry leaders today after discovering that the country doesn't have the right pallets to continue exporting goods to the European Union if it crashes out without a deal next month.
Brussels official says UK has ‘non-regression obligation’ to protect waters as part of trade deal.
Tory MPs urge government to scrap EU pesticide regulations and allow all US chemicals on food
14/06/2022
Conservative MPs have urged the government to use its Brexit freedoms to ditch the EU’s cautious approach to making sure pesticides are safe for human consumption.
The UK has promised a greener and more pleasant land after breaking free of the EU’s farming subsidy programme. But some warn that the new plans could leave small farms at a disadvantage and leave British farmers on uneven and uncertain ground.
Farmers are waking up to the effect Brexit could have on their industry, says PETER HETHERINGTON.
Government officials hold talks after they realise UK has shortage of the right pallets.