British Poultry Council calls for Brexit project to be abandoned

May suffered a huge defeat earlier this week at the House of Commons in London when her Brexit plan was rejected by 230 votes by Parliament.

Following the result, the British Poultry Council said it believed the only sensible option was to abandon Brexit as a “failed project​”.

“In the British poultry meat sector, we’ve suffered a lack of labour and increasing production costs, and seen our country’s food standards being challenged by other nations eyeing a quick profit at our long-term expense​,” said British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths.

“Brexit and food comes down to a very simple concept. Any departure from the EU means affordability and availability of food will be compromised. The burden of that will fall on those who can least afford it. This cannot be acceptable to anyone, either individual or Government​.”

The British Poultry Council said it believed the UK poultry sector was a “stronger and more prosperous​” nation as part of the EU.

Griffiths has recently voiced his opinion that a no-deal Brexit would have serious consequences​ for the poultry meat sector and stressed that businesses should prepare for a “crisis scenario​”.

Meanwhile, the Irish beef sector also warned, prior to the Brexit plan defeat, that a no-deal would cause chaos​ and dramatically undermine Ireland’s beef exports.

The UK’s left-wing Labour Party is now set to bid for a general election after the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal defeat. However, May is aiming to return to Parliament next week with an alternative plan.