Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“When even the Brexit hostile leadership of the UFU repudiates BBC’s latest Brexit scare story you know how preposterous it is.
“The claim from anonymous “experts” that 45,000 dairy cows will have to be culled in Northern Ireland plumbs new depths, even for BBC Newsnight. By cloaking themselves in anonymity they seek to avoid the shame and derision that would come their way when none of their predictions come true. But, for now, they serve their Remainer purposes.
“What those who peddle this nonsense never want to discuss is the opportunity for N.I. agriculture which arises when the Republic prices itself out of the GB market once it is required to pay the matching U.K. tariffs, arising from the EU threat to impose such on British produce.
“Currently the Republic relies on sales to the GB market for the survival of its agri-food industry. In a scenario of mutual tariffs the Republic’s sales to GB will collapse, leaving a huge marketing opportunity for N.I. produce. Alternative outlets within our own U.K. will open up for N.I. as we step forward to fill the void left by ROI being priced out of the market.
“Moreover, DEFRA has promised to stand by U.K. farmers in any Brexit adjustments and with billions no longer being poured into Brussels there’ll be the money to do it.
“So, the latest scaremongering deserves the same contempt as similar failed tactics during the Referendum campaign.”