Sheep farmers need EU trade deal, says Conservative MP

Getting a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union is “very important to sheep farming”, a Tory MP has said.

Former Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said agricultural communities would not be “satisfied” if the transition period ended without an agreement.

“A deal is better than no deal,” the Preseli Pembrokeshire MP said.

Environment Secretary George Eustice has suggested some sheep farmers could switch to beef farming if the EU imposed tariffs on UK lamb prices.

Mr Crabb said he was still “optimistic” a trade deal with the EU will be signed before the end of the transition period on 31 December.

He added that he did believe the UK government was “negotiating seriously” but that it is “not going to blink first – it is going to push it to the wire.”

But Mr Crabb said that if, in ten days time, “we are still stuck in the same place” then he would start “to feel very nervous indeed.”

Both sides have said they are reaching a “make or break” point in the talks.