YP Letters: Farmers should consider many benefits of leaving the EU

ANY farmer will tell you that in the uncertain world we live in, what with climate change and insecurity in the financial markets you need to plan carefully for the year ahead.

When much of your cash flow will be dictated by the condition of the markets you are working in, most farmers I know have a contingency plan just in case.

It will surprise many therefore that Liz Truss, the Environment Secretary, has stated that there is no “Plan B” should Britain vote to leave the EU.

There are substantial benefits to farmers leaving the EU, not least of which would be an immediate reduction in the volume of paperwork or online forms that are a mandatory requirement of the EU parliament. More importantly, the UK will not be able to swamped by EU farming imports unless we want them.

Milk may once again become a viable commodity. With the removal eventually of EU subsidies and their replacement with UK farming support grants, the UK market will be free to compete worldwide as we have successfully done for hundreds of years, but are restricted from doing under EU rules.

British farmers have been suffering on the export stage as the UK is not part of the euro (what a good decision that was) we are not even allowed a seat at the European trade table to sell our exports to other markets. No, we are told that the French and Germans will look after our interests when it comes to exports and what a poor job they done of that!

While many scaremongers will warn you that the UK faces a bleak and uncertain future outside the EU, most British citizens would welcome the opportunity of a free market, with the opportunity to set our course and embark on our journey without the hindrance, red tape and petty politics that the EU encourages – remember the banana and cucumber crisis!

There is massive dissatisfaction with the EU Parliament. The EU handling of the migrant crisis is a prime example of a co-operative not working and add that to disastrous economic programme of recovery which has failed spectacularly to date. We have 
to ask ourselves is this really worth £55m a day in membership fees?

Britain has long excelled as a world leader and not just as a star on someone else’s flag! Brits are renowned for true grit, determination and for being fair and sensible in all they do. Make your own mind up and use your referendum vote.