Britain is (empty) basket case of Europe as supermarkets fruit and veg shortages blamed on Brexit, weather and government

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We have food shortages because of Brexit and also because of this disastrous government that has no interest in food production Save British Farming Tim Farron MP, the Liberal Democrats’ environment spokesperson, said: “The secretary of state for farming denying any problems when supermarkets are limiting tomatoes and peppers shows that she is out of touch with British farmers and consumers.” Save British Farming blamed Brexit and the “disastrous” Tory government for the shortages, branding as “absolute nonsense” the idea of only Spanish weather being the cause. “The reason that we have food shortages in Britain and in Spain – or anywhere else in the EU – is because of Brexit, and also because of this disastrous Conservative government that has no interest in food production, farming or even food supply,” said the organisation’s chair, Liz Webster. Mr Opie said: “While disruption is expected to last a few weeks, supermarkets are adept at managing supply chain issues and are working with farmers to ensure that customers are able to access a wide range of fresh produce.” Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that “food security is national security” and that his party would commit to “buying, making and selling more in Britain”. The government said it understood “public concerns” over the supply of fresh vegetables, but that the UK had a “highly resilient food supply chain and is well equipped to deal with disruption”.