UK agriculture is worth more than the motor and aerospace industry combined but, while Theresa May is signing sweetheart deals with French-owned Nissan, her government hasn’t even had a meeting with agriculture leaders.

She says Australia and New Zealand are keen to sign a deal with us. No wonder. They are keen to sell us their lamb and beef!

At the Young Farmers’ Convention in Torquay, fears were raised that agriculture subsidies will be used as a bargaining chip in the Brexit negotiations.

Agriculture is a poor relation compared to the City of London and Mrs May is more keen to help the fat cats in the City than the hill farmers in the Yorkshire Dales.

Feed and energy prices are going up because of the fall in the pound.

Lamb prices will fall if the Kiwis flood the market and any reduction in subsidies could spell the end for many farmers who are barely surviving.

We need to halt this “hard Brexit”.

Philip Knowles, chair, Richmondshire Lib Dems