New environment secretary Michael Gove has promised to listen to the concerns of the food and farming sector as Brexit approaches.
Speaking at an NFU event at the House of Commons yesterday (20 June), Gove said Brexit brought with it the opportunity to get rid of “cumbersome bureaucracy”, and “ensure the rural economy works”, while pledging to listen to the sector and have an “open and frank” dialogue.
“I’m here to listen and serve,” Gove said. “Doing this job provides me with an opportunity to reset policy in a way that could be historical.”
The prominent Brexiteer added that the EU had “dictated how agriculture and fisheries in this country are governed, supported and shaped for the past 40 years”. But there was now an opportunity to reshape policy in the interests of the UK food and farming sector, he said.
And in an apparent reference to his predecessors at Defra, Gove added it was important farmers “explain to me exactly what it is that government has got wrong in the past, may get wrong in the future and needs to alter”.
“That’s how I like it, I want to make sure we have an open debate.”
The Surrey Heath MP also clarified comments made on the BBC’s Today programme earlier this week over his ambition for cheap and high-quality food after Brexit - described as “misjudged” by one prominent farming sector source - by stating that “not all foodstuffs are grown in this country”, and pointing out some imports could be cheaper.
Gove also suggested this afternoon’s Queen’s Speech may make concessions to the sector, by stating he hoped the audience would be pleased with its outcome.
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