One of the most senior Government advisers has said the UK does not need its farming or fishing industries, according to reports.
In comments seen by the Mail on Sunday, Dr Tim Leunig is understood to have said the food sector was not critically important’ to the country’s economy, and that agriculture and fisheries certainly isn’t’.
The economic adviser to the Chancellor, in his leaked emails, is reported to have said ministers could follow the example of Singapore which is rich without having its own agricultural sector’.
The published opinions are likely to propel industry fears that ministers could discard safeguards for farmers and fishermen in the forthcoming post-Brexit trade talks with the US and the European Union.
The Government has distanced itself from the comments made by the Treasury adviser.
A spokesperson said: We have made clear the comments are not in line with Government policy.’
Sources said the remarks were made in personal emails and that Dr Leunig was not speaking in his Treasury role.
The agriculture and fishing sectors represent less than 1% of the UK’s economy respectively.
But rural and coastal communities voted out in large numbers during the 2016 referendum after the Vote Leave campaign argued that farmers and fishermen would be better off once free of EU rules.
Fishermen also fear promises made to them on increased catch quotas and controlling who fishes in British waters could be traded in exchange for market access during the talks with the EU, which are due to begin next week.
Brussels has made clear it wants little to change in terms of access for European boats and quota allocation once the transition period is over in December.