“THE CHAOS of Brexit demonstrates, without a doubt, the need to take decisions over the future of rural Scotland here in Scotland – not by arrogant, out-of-touch Westminster governments that we didn’t vote for.”

Those were the words of former cabinet secretary for rural affairs Richard Lochhead, ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Michael Gove to Scotland this weekend.

The North East of Scotland MSP has called on Mr Gove to ‘say sorry to Moray’, the region he represents and has asked him to set out how the Tories will protect rural communities in the event of leaving the EU.

The SNP have also outlined three fundamental areas of concern which they seek answers to – the guaranteed protection of EU worker rights; retaining the status and reputation of quality Scottish produce in future trade deals; and removing a no deal Brexit from the table.

“Moray and the North East of Scotland are Scotland’s natural larder, where we produce among the best food and drink to be found the world over,” insisted Mr Lochhead.

“Local businesses rely on access to EU single market – eight times the size of the UK alone – to export their goods, and we rely on the protections afforded to these products which guarantee quality in a global market.

“Michael Gove, and other leading figures of the Leave campaign made plenty of bold promises in 2016,” he continued. “Scotland rejected their fatuous arguments and yet they are trying to drag us out of Europe against our will regardless.

“So rural Scotland expects those promises to be kept – a future in the Single Market, support for our farmers, a voice for our fishermen, an immigration system which works for us and no more threats to our world-class produce,” he urged.

Mr Gove is currently undertaking a series of visits in Moray and the north east, and is scheduled to meet with farmers and fisherman as decisions over Brexit become of mounting importance, with the exit date in sight.