Minister without Portfolio Brandon Lewis met farmers at the Royal Cornwall Show to discuss the impact of Brexit on the farming industry.

He said leaving the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) allows us to decide our own farming policy for the first time in more than 40 years, including a new system of paying farmers for protecting the environment and investing in sustainable food production.

The Minister heard first-hand from farmers who are often reliant on seasonal workers due to a large number of market gardens and flower farms.

Mr Lewis said the Government is working closely with industry to monitor the latest data on labour supply and demand, including both permanent and seasonal labour.

Fishermen and fishing industry representatives also spoke to the Minister on his visit to England’s second largest port, Newlyn, about how they think the fishing industry in the area may be affected by the UK leaving the EU.

Alex Stevens, regional policy manager for the South West NFU said: ‘Farmers and food producers value this opportunity to voice the challenges and opportunities that leaving the EU will present direct to the heart of government.

‘Clarity on the future of seasonal and permanent workers within the supply chain, certainty about trade deals within the EU and beyond, and meaningful measures to support top quality, traceable and dependable domestic food production are all needed.’