Farmers angry after senior government adviser says UK could import all food 'like Singapore'

The UK has a"moral imperative" to produce its own food, the chief of the farmers' union has said after it emerged a senior government adviser argued Britain could import all produce.

Minette Batters, the president of the National Union of Farmers, hit back at suggestions the UK could copy nations such as Singapore and import all its food. In emails obtained by The Mail On Sunday, Dr Tim Leunig - an economic adviser to Chancellor Rishi Sunak - wrote that the food sector"isn't critically important" to the UK and farming and fishing"certainly isn't".According to the newspaper, Dr Leuing - in emails sent last week to the National Food Strategy, a major review of the UK's food system - highlighted figures that suggest the sector adds just 0.5% in extra value to the UK economy.

Ms Batters dismissed the comparison with Singapore, telling Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday show:"Singapore has five million people, and doesn't have any farmed landscape so it actually has to import all its food."Here, 75% of Britain is a farmed landscape, we have a fantastic maritime climate in which to produce our food, and we have 60 million-plus people here to feed so there's a sort of moral imperative, if you like, for us to be able to produce food in this country.

The government also distanced itself from Dr Leunig's remarks, which are understood to have been made in personal emails and with the adviser not speaking in his Treasury role.

Brexit. The gift that keeps on taking

Large Leave signs in many farmers fields before referendum.

At a guess I’d say that with their resources and vast knowledge farmers would keep producing food for themselves....it’s everyone else that will suffer. It really is about time people had a bit of food knowledge and love for British farming reducefoodmiles

Farmers are never happy always skint but drive 100 grand tractors and combines blah blah

Another Government Adviser with no idea of what is required at all. How many of these idiots are there paid for with our taxes?

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