Thread by @johanntasker

How it started vs how it's going - for #SugarBeet growers

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In 2016, UK farm minister and Conservative MP George Eustice said farmers would be better off if the UK left the EU. Mr Eustice has since been promoted to @DefraGovUK secretary

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fwi.co.uk/news/eu-refere…

The government has now confirmed it will allow 260,000 tonnes of raw sugar to be imported tariff-free into the UK in 2021.

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gov.uk/government/con…

It follows the UK's decision to leave the EU and the end of the #Brexit transition period on 31 Dec 2020.

The government insists there will be no negative impact on UK farmers because the raw sugar will replace imports from the EU.

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gov.uk/government/con…

But @NFUSugar chairman @Mhssly says allowing so much raw sugar into the country tariff-free is 'devastating' for the UK's 3,000+ sugar beet growers & could lead to the permanent decline of UK sugar beet industry.

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nfuonline.com/sectors/nfu-su…

The sole processor of the UK #SugarBeet crop is @BritishSugar, which processes about 8m tonnes of sugar beet into some 1.4m tonnes of sugar each year – supporting thousands of jobs.

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britishsugar.co.uk/about-us/what-…

Imported raw sugar is processed into white sugar and other products at the UK's sole cane sugar refinery in London, owned by @TateLyleSugars

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uk.reuters.com/article/uk-bri…

FARMING FACTOID: @TateLyleSugars sponsored the @Conservatives annual party conference in 2017.

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fwi.co.uk/news/tories-co…