Britain is heading for a hard Brexit in one way or another according to a leading agricultural advisor of European policy.
Peter Fane has been advising farmers, trade bodies and agricultural businesses on all aspects of European policy for over 20-years.
He said that despite pressure from within the Conservative Party including from Chancellor Philip Hammond, he believed that “by accident or by design” Britain is on course for a hard Brexit.
Mr Fane said that he believed the current government would see out the Brexit negotiations and did not think there was the possibility of another general election on the horizon.
He was discussing the implications of Brexit for agriculture as part of a panel at the Arable Event in Shropshire on Wednesday (21 June).
The prediction from Mr Fane comes as Prime Minister Theresa May starts her talks on Brexit negotiations, following a rocky snap general election for the Conservatives.
She has already envisaged giving all EU citizens the right to stay after the UK's exit - due on 30 March 2019 - and granting those resident for at the least five years the same rights to welfare, pensions and education as UK citizens.
FarmingUK also spoke to a leading agricultural business consultant at the event, he said it is ‘extremely likely’ that Britain will end up with an interim deal with the European Union.
