Thursday 9 June 2016

The Brexit debate at the Bath and West Show

Whether you are in or out the Bath and West Show was the place for extremely high calibre debate on the issue of Brexit.  The show kicked off with the Country Land and Business Association breakfast where four South West MPs passionately argued their respective cases.

The debate was introduced by CLA deputy Tim Breitmeyer who said: “We face a defining moment in history – it will shape our future and our children’s future.”

With those words still ringing in our ears Neil Parrish, MP for Tiverton and former South West MEP spoke from the heart on why he believed leaving the EU would be detrimental for British agriculture in particular.
From his experience as an MEP, where he chaired the committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, he explained that compared to this country, agriculture is still regarded as a very important industry throughout the rest of the EU.  Consequently he believed that UK farming interests would be better protected within the EU.

North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg responded with an amusing and eloquent speech focusing on higher level sovereignty issues and the undemocratic nature of the EU.  He proffered an intellectually rigorous argument why he felt the UK would be better off out of the EU, taking back control of its own laws under a democratically elected UK government.

Then Farming Minister George Eustice summed up for the Brexiteers.  His opinions have obviously been influenced to a degree by his frustration of having to deal with the implementation of EU rules in his role at DEFRA.  

He also emphasised that the government would support farmers in a post Brexit world, although his reference to the Environment Agency and RSPCA being two of the organisations earmarked to help run the domestic schemes did raise eyebrows.   

Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton, then summed up for the Remain supporters, emphasising some of the important benefits that have come out of the EU such as environmental legislation as well as the huge benefits of free access to the biggest single market, the withdrawal from which she argued could have a devastating effect on the trade of certain agricultural produce such as British lamb.

I am not sure whether many in the audience had their opinions swayed by this first class debate but if we do vote to leave on June 23 it would certainly be fascinating to have those same speakers back in five or ten years to review the consequences of what actually does happen.



James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells

T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk

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