Brexit changes linked to ‘collapse in confidence’ for UK farmers

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. NFU President Tom Bradshaw has warned that the collapse in confidence has seen 7,000 agricultural businesses close down since 2019 and is now imperilling food security in Britain. The NFU’s annual Farmer Confidence Survey was taken between November 2023 and January this year, and Mr Bradshaw noted that if it had been taken today the word “crisis” would need to be added. Food security could become a problem in the UK The NFU president blamed 18 months of unusually wet weather for much of the difficulties but also listed a number of problems caused by Brexit, including the Australia and New Zealand trade deals which come with a competitive disadvantage for the UK because of Britain’s higher standards. If they really mean these words they need to ask themselves what actions they need to take to rebuild farmer confidence.” He warned “believing we can import our way out of this problem is naive at best and foolish at worst.” He added: “We need a long-term plan for how we are going to feed 70 million people on an island.” 18 months of bad weather has harmed farmer confidence Mr Bradshaw pointed to another post-Brexit issue on immigration that “we still don’t have a seasonal worker scheme for next year.” This issue has seen EU citizens, who used to come and pick fruit, stop making the trip following the UK leaving the EU.