Following the Prime Minister’s decision to allow a vote on delaying Brexit, the Agriculture Minister, George Eustice, has resigned from the government.
The MP said it would be "dangerous" to go to the EU "cap in hand at the 11th hour and beg for an extension". Mr Eustice is a longstanding Brexiteer, who stood as a UKIP MEP candidate before joining the Conservatives.
In his resignation letter Eustice said: “If the position of Parliament is now that we will refuse to leave without an agreement then we are somewhat stuck. This is uncomfortable for everyone, but we cannot negotiate a successful Brexit unless we are prepared to walk through the door.”
In her reply the Prime Minister said that Mr Eustice had been an exemplary Minister at Defra over the last five and a half years and was sorry to receive his resignation. The PM also said she was focused on leaving the EU with a deal on 29th March.
Eustice also told the BBC in an interview that he would back the withdrawal deal the Prime Minister has negotiated with the EU, despite some reservations, saying: "I do think it's preferable to have an orderly Brexit and crucially, it's preferable to get Brexit done.
The Minister had been in the role since May 2015 and has served as the Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth since 2010.
Reacting to the news, Norman Bagley, head of policy at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) said: "I've not always seen eye to eye with the Minister as I felt he was somewhat enthralled by some of the more anti-commercial farming vested interest groups.
“Let's hope that we now get someone in post who has a true interest and understanding of the issues facing mainstream commercial production up and down the supply chain."
Andrew Kuyk the Director General of the PTF added: “The surprise resignation of George Eustice at this particular point, in what is already an extraordinary and tortuous Brexit process, only adds to the massive and destabilising uncertainties which our industry faces.
“Leaving the politics to one side, George Eustice takes with him detailed knowledge and experience of the food farming and fisheries sectors, as well as the network of stakeholder relationships which he has built up over many years in his now former role. This poses a critical challenge in terms of continuity. This is particularly true in respect of fisheries policy at what is a time of unprecedented sensitivity and risk.”
Nick Allen, Chief Executive of The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) commented: “George Eustice was a very approachable Minister who always took time to listen to the challenges the industry faced. With DEFRA right at the forefront of the work relating to Brexit it is a difficult time to have a change of Minister’’
Whilst Ian Stevenson the Chief Executive of The Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) said: “George Eustice was a strong supporter of UK meat industry efforts to open up new export market opportunities for red meat in third countries.
“This is important work which must continue to be championed at Ministerial level in order to help industry realise the best returns for every part of the carcase, particularly for those parts that have a lower value in domestic and EU markets.
“LMC strongly concurs with industry views in Northern Ireland that we cannot afford to take the unacceptable pain and damage that would result in our beef and sheep sector from leaving the EU without a deal, so it is essential that we are not taken through that door.”
In his letter of resignation to the Prime Minister George Eustice also said: “I have particularly welcomed the chance to craft two new Bills on farming and fisheries, which are the first for half a century, as we have prepared the ground to restore self-government in this country.”
On hearing the news yesterday, Nick Deane, chairman of the Norfolk branch of the NFU told The Eastern Daily Press: “I hope that his successor will be someone – not necessarily from a rural background – but someone with an understanding of rural issues, so a rural constituency MP would fit the bill.
“We need someone who understands agriculture, and we need someone who is committed to food production, as the Agriculture Bill does not mention food enough. We need someone who will put food at the forefront and fight our corner, and give us the tools we need to be productive and sustainable.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
