Scotland’s farming union backed the First Minister’s position, but acknowledged the UK Government will seek a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU. This week, Sturgeon published a new position paper based on the Scottish Government’s latest research into the impact on Scotland of the UK leaving the EU.

The report acknowledges the importance of farming and food to Scotland’s economy, and the challenges Brexit presents with regard to trade, labour and the future of support. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “For the sake of jobs, the economy and the next generation, today we are calling on the UK Government to drop its hard Brexit red-lines, so that Scotland and the UK can stay inside the Single Market and Customs Union.

NFUS president Andrew McCornick has said: “Our preference is for the UK to remain in the EU Single Market and Customs Union, but we understand that the UK Government will seek to devise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU. The FTA must allow frictionless, unfettered and barrier-free access to EU markets.

“It is possible that interim measures may have to be put in place before an FTA is implemented. NFUS believes that, at the very least, the UK should stay within the Customs Union during the transition period to new trade agreements.”