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| Brexit: Boris Johnson says farms will thrive as PM visits Wales | Brexit: Boris Johnson says farms will thrive as PM visits Wales |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson is making his first visit to Wales as prime minister, as he tries to rally support from farmers for his Brexit plans. | Boris Johnson is making his first visit to Wales as prime minister, as he tries to rally support from farmers for his Brexit plans. |
| He has promised agriculture will thrive with new trade deals. | He has promised agriculture will thrive with new trade deals. |
| But a Welsh farmer called on Mr Johnson to stop "playing Russian roulette" with the lamb industry over the threat of a no-deal Brexit. | But a Welsh farmer called on Mr Johnson to stop "playing Russian roulette" with the lamb industry over the threat of a no-deal Brexit. |
| Later he will meet Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford who will tell him Brexit will be "catastrophic" for Wales. | Later he will meet Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford who will tell him Brexit will be "catastrophic" for Wales. |
| It follows the Farmers' Union of Wales president warning of "civil unrest" in rural areas if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement. | It follows the Farmers' Union of Wales president warning of "civil unrest" in rural areas if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement. |
| Meanwhile, the prime minister has had his first phone call with Irish leader Leo Varadkar since taking office. | Meanwhile, the prime minister has had his first phone call with Irish leader Leo Varadkar since taking office. |
| Mr Johnson's visit to a farm in St Brides Wentlooge, Newport, is the latest in his tour of the United Kingdom since becoming prime minister, after a trip to Scotland at the start of the week. | Mr Johnson's visit to a farm in St Brides Wentlooge, Newport, is the latest in his tour of the United Kingdom since becoming prime minister, after a trip to Scotland at the start of the week. |
| On Monday, the prime minister said there was "every chance" a Brexit deal with the EU could be struck, but the existing agreement with the EU has "got to go". | On Monday, the prime minister said there was "every chance" a Brexit deal with the EU could be struck, but the existing agreement with the EU has "got to go". |
| However senior minister Michael Gove, who has been put in charge of preparing for no deal, has said the UK government was working on the assumption the UK would leave the EU without an agreement. | However senior minister Michael Gove, who has been put in charge of preparing for no deal, has said the UK government was working on the assumption the UK would leave the EU without an agreement. |
| Mr Johnson's visit to Wales comes as the Conservatives fight to hold Brecon and Radnorshire in a by-election on Thursday - he is expected to visit the constituency later. | Mr Johnson's visit to Wales comes as the Conservatives fight to hold Brecon and Radnorshire in a by-election on Thursday - he is expected to visit the constituency later. |
| Ahead of the visit, the prime minister said: "I will always back Britain's great farmers and as we leave the EU we need to make sure that Brexit works for them. | Ahead of the visit, the prime minister said: "I will always back Britain's great farmers and as we leave the EU we need to make sure that Brexit works for them. |
| "That means scrapping the Common Agricultural Policy and signing new trade deals - our amazing food and farming sector will be ready and waiting to continue selling ever more not just here but around the world. | "That means scrapping the Common Agricultural Policy and signing new trade deals - our amazing food and farming sector will be ready and waiting to continue selling ever more not just here but around the world. |
| "Once we leave the EU on 31 October, we will have a historic opportunity to introduce new schemes to support farming - and we will make sure that farmers get a better deal." | "Once we leave the EU on 31 October, we will have a historic opportunity to introduce new schemes to support farming - and we will make sure that farmers get a better deal." |
| The farming industry is worth more than £6bn to the Welsh economy and supports 14,000 businesses, 45,000 jobs and about 25,000 farmers. | The farming industry is worth more than £6bn to the Welsh economy and supports 14,000 businesses, 45,000 jobs and about 25,000 farmers. |
| Welsh lamb will face at least 40% tariffs in a no deal scenario, prompting a sheep farmer to call for Mr Johnson "to stop playing Russian roulette with the industry as he appears to be doing at the moment". | Welsh lamb will face at least 40% tariffs in a no deal scenario, prompting a sheep farmer to call for Mr Johnson "to stop playing Russian roulette with the industry as he appears to be doing at the moment". |
| "If we do go out with a no deal, it will be absolutely catastrophic even if it is just for a few months," Helen Roberts, who is also development officer for the National Sheep Association in Wales, told Radio 4's Today programme. | "If we do go out with a no deal, it will be absolutely catastrophic even if it is just for a few months," Helen Roberts, who is also development officer for the National Sheep Association in Wales, told Radio 4's Today programme. |
| She said her members will protest against a no-deal Brexit: "I think it's time to come and stand up for ourselves, and be counted." | She said her members will protest against a no-deal Brexit: "I think it's time to come and stand up for ourselves, and be counted." |
| BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith | BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith |
| Boris Johnson probably faces a fairly bumpy ride today. | Boris Johnson probably faces a fairly bumpy ride today. |
| Farmers are desperate for clarity about what happens after Brexit because of all sectors it probably faces the biggest shake-up. | Farmers are desperate for clarity about what happens after Brexit because of all sectors it probably faces the biggest shake-up. |
| There's obviously the exit from the Common Agricultural Policy, the uncertain future for subsidies - they're only guaranteed until 2022 and it's not clear what happens after that. | There's obviously the exit from the Common Agricultural Policy, the uncertain future for subsidies - they're only guaranteed until 2022 and it's not clear what happens after that. |
| They'll also face much more competition after Brexit - more opportunity too, but definitely more competition. | They'll also face much more competition after Brexit - more opportunity too, but definitely more competition. |
| And if we end up leaving with no deal they're likely to face very, very steep tariffs - there could be up to 30% on dairy products, 42% on lamb. | And if we end up leaving with no deal they're likely to face very, very steep tariffs - there could be up to 30% on dairy products, 42% on lamb. |
| All of that means the new prime minister is going to face very tough questions and they'll want to hear some answers. | All of that means the new prime minister is going to face very tough questions and they'll want to hear some answers. |
| Agriculture and what will replace CAP farming subsidies are devolved to the Welsh Government. | Agriculture and what will replace CAP farming subsidies are devolved to the Welsh Government. |
| Ministers in Wales have proposed a grant scheme to replace EU funding, with farmers offered cash to carry out work that protects and enhances the environment. | Ministers in Wales have proposed a grant scheme to replace EU funding, with farmers offered cash to carry out work that protects and enhances the environment. |
| Welsh farmers receive subsidies worth about £300m a year from the EU - it is not known how much cash will be available to support agriculture after Brexit. | Welsh farmers receive subsidies worth about £300m a year from the EU - it is not known how much cash will be available to support agriculture after Brexit. |
| Ahead of his meeting with Mr Johnson, Mr Drakeford said he will tell the PM: "Brexit will be catastrophic for Wales." | Ahead of his meeting with Mr Johnson, Mr Drakeford said he will tell the PM: "Brexit will be catastrophic for Wales." |
| He tweeted: "It will decimate our agricultural and manufacturing sectors & risks ripping the Union apart. The PM must stop playing fast and loose with our country." | He tweeted: "It will decimate our agricultural and manufacturing sectors & risks ripping the Union apart. The PM must stop playing fast and loose with our country." |
| BBC Wales political editor Felicity Evans said the first minister "had been warning for a long time that a no deal was a catastrophe, now he's stepped that up to say any Brexit would be". | BBC Wales political editor Felicity Evans said the first minister "had been warning for a long time that a no deal was a catastrophe, now he's stepped that up to say any Brexit would be". |
| "We've seen the Welsh Government pivoting on Brexit since the European Parliamentary elections which were historically awful for Welsh Labour," she added. | |
| Mr Drakeford has thrown his weight behind a further referendum since that result. | Mr Drakeford has thrown his weight behind a further referendum since that result. |
| In the 2016 EU referendum 52.5% of voters in Wales voted to leave the European Union while 47.5% wanted to stay. | In the 2016 EU referendum 52.5% of voters in Wales voted to leave the European Union while 47.5% wanted to stay. |
| 'Shift in attitude' | 'Shift in attitude' |
| Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns suggested new global markets, including in Japan, will be available to sheep meat producers. | Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns suggested new global markets, including in Japan, will be available to sheep meat producers. |
| Mr Cairns told the BBC: "We are now looking to the growth that will come from right around the world, 90% of global growth will come from outside of the EU, | Mr Cairns told the BBC: "We are now looking to the growth that will come from right around the world, 90% of global growth will come from outside of the EU, |
| "But we don't want to close our back on the European market either and that's why working hard to get a deal is important, but of course there needs to be a shift in attitude and a positive response to the cause that we're making." | "But we don't want to close our back on the European market either and that's why working hard to get a deal is important, but of course there needs to be a shift in attitude and a positive response to the cause that we're making." |
| Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts pointed out via Twitter the Japanese market had been opened up to Welsh lamb by the EU-Japan trade deal. | Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts pointed out via Twitter the Japanese market had been opened up to Welsh lamb by the EU-Japan trade deal. |
| Mr Cairns added farmers "can be guaranteed that the same money will be available to ensure that we are protecting this sector". | Mr Cairns added farmers "can be guaranteed that the same money will be available to ensure that we are protecting this sector". |
| A report commissioned by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Quality Meat Scotland and Meat Promotion Wales suggested beef and lamb exports to Europe could fall by about 92% in a no-deal scenario. | A report commissioned by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Quality Meat Scotland and Meat Promotion Wales suggested beef and lamb exports to Europe could fall by about 92% in a no-deal scenario. |
| On Monday, Mr Johnson visited Faslane naval base in Scotland and announced £300m for three economic growth deals in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales - the Mid Wales Growth Deal. | On Monday, Mr Johnson visited Faslane naval base in Scotland and announced £300m for three economic growth deals in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales - the Mid Wales Growth Deal. |
| It is not clear how much the mid Wales deal will receive - the UK government said it depended on the proposals put forward. | It is not clear how much the mid Wales deal will receive - the UK government said it depended on the proposals put forward. |
| Meanwhile, two committees have been set up as the UK government intensifies preparations for a possible no-deal exit, including a "daily operations committee" of senior ministers. | Meanwhile, two committees have been set up as the UK government intensifies preparations for a possible no-deal exit, including a "daily operations committee" of senior ministers. |
| The pound has continued to fall on currency markets as the government insists that the UK is prepared to leave the EU without a deal. | The pound has continued to fall on currency markets as the government insists that the UK is prepared to leave the EU without a deal. |