It is with great sadness that I have to accept that it is the desire of the British public to leave the European Union. What this will do the the future of the United Kingdom and, more importantly British agriculture, is unknown but it is very difficult not to jump to knee-jerk conclusions. Will Scotland vote to stay in and be rejected by the EU? Will Northern Ireland vote to stay in and forge stronger ties with the Republic? Who knows?

Weakened government

When David Cameron set out on a path to appease the backbenchers by allowing a referendum on leaving Europe, he had no way of knowing that failing MPs of all parties would unite in a common cause to achieve the result we have seen today, including the resignation of the Prime Minister. We will definitely end up with a weakened government as MPs of varying shades of blue and red struggle for supremacy. The financial impact, as yet unknown, has already caused a run on the pound.

EU access

There was a furore when Tata steel threatened to abandon the steelworks with cries of the knock-on effect on unemployment in specific areas- what will happen when the foreign car industries remove their manufacturing from Britain as they no longer have access to the European market? If we had stayed in, we not have been worse off than we are now but the likelihood of the next ten years' of uncertainty is going to damage Britain's economy. It will be influenced by a motley collection of MPs driven by self-aggrandisement. Will this be the start of the unraveling of the European Union?

Turkeys voting for Christmas doesn't come into it

What amazes me is the number of farmers who voted out. Anyone who voted to leave doesn't deserve a future in agriculture as they have placed their political inclinations above their individual farming futures. Turkeys voting for Christmas doesn't come into it. MPs and advisors are already eyeing up cheap food supplies from around the world. One indication of how bad the dairy industry is in this country is the fact that one large South Wales dairy farming business has just sold 300 cows and next week was due to sell another herd of 700. On failing their TB test, they have decided to slaughter the lot rather than continue TB testing. I hear nothing like happening in Ireland where farmers are being encouraged to expand. The only good thing is the spot market has risen to 25pence.

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