Chris Grayling: British farmers will grow more food if there is a 'no deal' Brexit
2 min read
British farmers will produce more food if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, according to Chris Grayling.
The Transport Secretary also said Britain would buy more produce from around the world rather than the EU.
His comments follow Theresa May's admission that the Government has ordered civil servants to make contingency plans for a 'no deal' Brexit.
Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning, Mr Grayling - who was part of the Vote Leave campaign in last year's referendum - said "Britain will succeed come what may", but insisted that he believed a "sensible deal" will be struck with the EU.
However, asked what a no deal Brexit would mean for food prices, he said: "It would mean that producers, supermarkets, bought more at home. It would mean that farmers would produce more, that they bought more from around the world. It would damage continental producers, and French producers."
Mr Grayling added: "What we will do is grow more here and buy more from around the world, but that would be bad news for continental farmers. That's why it won't happen, because it's in their interests to reach a deal."
The Cabinet minister also hit back at John McDonnell's claim that Labour could join forces with rebel Tories to block a no deal scenario by amending the Government EU Withdrawal Bill.
"John McDonnell was talking a load of complete nonsense," he said. "Parliament has already voted to leave the European Union - overwhelmingly, including Labour supporters, back at the start of this year. What this bill does is ensures a smooth transition for our laws so that people can be sure that the law that applies the day before is the law that applies the day after.
"John McDonnell threatening to derail this bill is John McDonnell threatening to create the kind of chaotic Brexit that he himself is warning against."
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