By Clare Slipper,

NFU Scotland Parliamentary Officer

"PRIME MINISTER Theresa May MP, delivered a speech this afternoon in which she set out the key principles she will stick to in the upcoming negotiation withdrawing the UK from the EU.

It was not a ‘blueprint for Brexit’ with the Prime Minister not showing her hand on the detail and issues that will be integral to the central negotiation. However, the speech was the most telling of all the public statements she has delivered since last June on her vision for the United Kingdom outside the EU.

As she stood in front of a banner emblazoned with the words ‘A Global Britain’, the Prime Minister confirmed for the first time that the UK negotiators will withdraw us from the EU Single Market and Customs Union.

It was also made clear that both Houses of Parliament will be given a vote to ratify the final deal that is agreed between UK and EU negotiators before it is put into fruition.

The 12 ‘guiding principles’ conveyed in today’s speech are as follows:

1. To provide certainty wherever possible.

2. Leaving the European Union and jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice will bring law-making powers back to Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

3. Strengthening the union between the four nations of the UK will be a priority. The Prime Minister outlined that the devolved administrations will be fully engaged with the process, with care taken on the repatriation of powers back from Brussels to ensure that no decisions currently made by devolved administrations will be removed from them.

4. Seeking a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the common travel area with the Republic of Ireland.

5. Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe.

6. The guarantee of rights for EU citizens living in Britain and the rights of British nationals in other member states is something the UK Government wants to provide as early as possible.

7. The UK Government will protect the rights of workers currently set out in European legislation, and will act to build on them.

8. Guaranteeing control over the UK’s borders and withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice will mean the UK will withdraw from the EU Single Market. The UK Government will pursue an ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union which could mean a ‘special deal’ for trade in certain products such as cars or financial services. As we won’t be members of the single market we won’t contribute huge sums to the EU. Might continue to make some payments, in return for access to certain programmes.

9. Full Customs Union membership prevents us from negotiating our own trade deals with international partners and the Prime Minister wants the UK to be free to establish its own tariff schedules at the World Trade Organisation. In order to “rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation” with new and emerging international trading partners it will mean leaving the Customs Union and negotiating a new arrangement on that basis. This could mean associate membership or becoming a signatory to allow some elements of the Customs Union to be retained – the PM is open-minded as to how this will be achieved.

10. UK Government will welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives.

11. UK Government will continue to work closely with European allies in foreign and defence policy.

12. UK Government believes a phased process of implementation will be in the interests of Britain, the EU institutions and member states.

For the Scottish farming and food industry, access to the EU market without barriers and any new obstacles has always been a priority. Next to the rest of the UK, Europe remains the largest destination for Scottish food exports and a market that offers a good opportunity for growth.

Now that we know the Prime Minister has ruled out remaining within the Single Market, what will become of utmost importance to the Scottish agricultural industry is that the Prime Minister achieves her objective of a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the EU.

NFU Scotland wants barrier and tariff-free trade as well as the freedom to set our own appropriate rules for farming. With the UK and Scottish Governments both now having set out their opposing stalls, for NFU Scotland there will be a renewed focus for discussions with the both governments on a number of vital issues.

Will the future trade arrangements allow Scottish producers the best possible access to EU markets, and could this be in the form of a ‘special deal’ as has been suggested for the automotive and financial services industries? With freedom of movement clearly still presenting a sticking point, will we retain and secure access to a competent and reliable workforce? And will the negotiation allow the appropriate agricultural policy to be developed in the UK that provides appropriate funding levels and flexibility in policy-making that recognises Scotland’s unique agricultural systems. It must also ensure that there is a fair share of the risk and reward across the whole supply chain?

The Prime Minister argued today that her position was the most “economically rational”, as it would increase trade and therefore job and growth-creation. Whereas for the Scottish Government, it views remaining within the Single Market as essential to securing “Scotland’s economic, social and cultural interests”.

For NFU Scotland members, profitability is king. Scottish producers are ready and waiting for the opportunities that Brexit can provide, but this must not be at the expense of the provenance of Scottish produce; nor result in cheap imports driving down standards of production."

This blog first appeared on the NFU Scotland website - http://www.nfus.org.uk/news/view-from-the-top/parliamentary-officers-blog-17-january-2017 )