Environment minister Liz Truss this week visited produce giant G’s to discuss the potential impact of Brexit and in support of the Prime Minister’s Remain campaign.
The visits builds on G’s visit to 10 Downing Street last month as part of a trade event to highlight the threat to businesses if Britain was to leave the European Union.
Hosted at the G’s Social Centre, the event saw over 120 G’s staff and suppliers to question Truss and MEP Vicky Ford on the upcoming referendum, which takes place next week (23 June), with questions ranging from the impact of Brexit on the G’s business, to the risk of potential security challenges that the EU would face if Britain was not at the negotiating table.
As one of Europe’s largest salad producers, G’s has production facilities across the UK, Spain, Czech Republic and USA and employs almost 5,500 people across Europe. It exports around £3 million worth of product to the EU.
Chairman John Shropshire said: “I am delighted that staff had the opportunity to speak to the Secretary of State Elizabeth Truss and MEP Vicky Ford.
“Since its formation in 1992, the EU Single Market has helped to abolish more red tape than any national government could. It was championed by Margaret Thatcher: clumsy national tariffs and regulations were swept away, the movement of goods, capital, services and food products were liberated, and the benefits to the consumer and businesses have been legion.
“Our harvest machinery can be used throughout the whole continent, without modification, expensive border checks and mountains of paper work; and, our produce can be sold to consumers across the whole continent, thanks to the harmonisation of standards throughout Europe.”
Shropshire noted that single market innovations and “outstanding European motorway networks”, have allowed businesses to thrive without the need for air freight. “The substantially reduced supply chain costs have continuously cut the retail price of healthy fresh produce over the past thirty years to the huge benefit of consumers,” he said.
“A trade deal with the Single Market would be years in the making, and in the meantime, British agri-food businesses would suffer a 12 per cent import tariff, under World Trade Organisation rules. Do we really want our businesses and consumers on the wrong side of that?
“Brexit would be no victory for liberty or democracy: it would shatter the progress made in Europe towards freedom, prosperity and peace over the last 60 years. It would isolate Britain in an uncertain world, and it would play havoc with our food and farming industries, which have gained so much from an era of continental harmony, openness and cooperation and extraordinary benefit to consumers.”
Truss said EU membership gives British food and drink producers like G’s “unfettered” access to a single market of over 500 million people. “Exports to the EU from the UK’s food and drink industry made £11 billion for the British economy last year. If the UK were to leave the EU, exporters would face crippling tariffs to sell their goods to Europe.
“As the 23 June fast approaches I would urge the British people to focus on the significant benefits that come from being in Europe. Since 1973 the British economy has grown faster than France, Germany and the US, bringing us prosperity. A messy divorce would take years to resolve, risking jobs, security and the future opportunities of our children.”
Vicky Ford MEP said: “Unless a new trade deal is negotiated producers and consumers will see added customs tariffs and taxes on food. We have no idea how long a new trade deal will take to negotiate or what it will look like.”
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