The forthcoming referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union was the subject of intense argument at this year’s Pig and Poultry Fair, with farming figures from both sides of the divide taking part in a staged debate.
Sir Peter Kendall and James Hook of P D Hook spoke in favour of EU membership, whilst free range egg producer and UKIP MEP Stuart Agnew outlined the benefits he felt would result from voting for independence. He was joined by Berkshire arable farmer Colin Rayner.
Following the debate, Sir Peter and Stuart Agnew spoke to FarmingUK TV.
The former NFU president warned that leading ‘Leave’ campaigners were telling voters that leaving the EU would lead to cheaper food prices. That would inevitably impact on farmers, he said.
Stuart Agnew said that the UK would be financially better off outside the EU.
He said that legislation governing free range egg production was currently being created by other EU member countries which had very few free range hens. The rest of the EU was predominantly cage, he said.
Leaving the single market 'wouldn't be a disaster'
Stuart Agnew claimed that EU regulation only added cost to British farming, and insisted that even within the EU there wasn't a level playing field.
"There are still caged hens and sow tethers out there," he said.
"The future within the EU is far from certain, with tremendous concerns over the Euro, EU growth, and middle Eastern migration. This project is failing."
But leaving the single market wouldn't be a disaster, said Agnew. "We export a lot to China and they're not in the single market.
"We also import far more goods from the EU than we export to them – there's a deal to be done here."
Serious impact on free movement of people in EU
However, James Hook warned that leaving the EU would have a serious impact on free movement of foreign workers, who were vital to so many British businesses.
"It's taken 40 years to get here, and it's working. We have strong supply chains, EU tariffs in our favour and good trade," he said "Why would we risk it – it's a massive gamble."
Berkshire farmer Colin Rayner said British farming had survived before EU subsidies and would survive after leaving the EU.
"The EU isn't going to be recognisable in 10 years time – it's time for us to be brave enough to stand on our own two feet,” he said.
It was also preferable to be able to hold British politicians accountable rather than be told what to do by foreign commissioners, he added.
But Sir Peter wasn't so sure. "At the moment we have a supportive government – but what if we have a labour coalition with Nicola Sturgeon in the future? I'd actually rather have the Germans, Irish and French working for agriculture."
