Nottinghamshire strawberry farmer reveals eye-watering £1.2million bill from Keir Starmer's 'Brexit betrayal' reset

The warning follows The Andersons Centre report, which shows the agricultural sector is facing potential costs of upwards of £810million as part of a new UK-EU Sanitary & Phytosanitary Agreement.

Parliamentarians, policymakers and industry stakeholders heard directly from growers earlier this week about the real-world consequences of retrospective SPS alignment for British agriculture.

Mr Tasker, who joined other growers at the Crop Life UK event, revealed the estimated reduction in sellable soft fruit of nine per cent would contribute to estimated losses of £1.2million.

The strawberry farmer was joined on the panel by Ali Capper, Chair of British Apples & Pears, Dave Bell, a Scottish mixed farmer, and James Mills, Vice Chair of the NFU Combinable Crops Board.

Britain is currently negotiating a new SPS agreement after Sir Keir agreed to a Common Understanding Agreement in May 2025.

However, Mr Bell warned Sir Keir's 2027 deadline could have a profound impact on the farming sector.

"If alignment is rushed without a clear transition, farmers could lose some of the key tools we rely on to protect British crops and stay competitive," Mr Bell said.

"On already tight margins, that kind of cliff-edge change makes it far harder for us to keep producing the high-quality, affordable food people expect from British farming."

The Anderson Centre's recent 23-page report found "immediate cliff-edge alignment" suggested UK farm Gross Value Added could fall by up to six per cent if the UK is forced to adopt retrospective alignment.

A reduction in UK food security could also increase food miles and result in prices surging on supermarket shelves.

Meanwhile, Eurosceptics have labelled alignment a "Brexit betrayal" and warned the British public will have no say if the Prime Minister agrees to the UK becoming a rule-taker.

However, a new SPS agreement could help the sector by reducing trade barriers between Britain and the EU, with the UK's share of agri-food exports to the bloc falling by 21 per cent in 2024.

Ms Capper said: "As fruit growers we have a number of threats to our ability to produce a great crop of perfect apples and pears – climate volatility and unpredictable weather being the biggest risk. EU-UK alignment has the potential to bring many benefits.

"However, on the details of the SPS it is imperative that we understand the proposed timelines and approach so that businesses can plan for this growing season and the next without fear that negotiated rule changes prevent the sale of their crop or undermine their ability to compete directly with EU growers."

There have also been growing concerns that Sir Keir's administration has kept farmers in the dark about its negotiations, with Europe Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds coming under fire in December last year after failing to attend a select committee meeting on the impact of a new SPS agreement.

But GB News understands Sir Keir's Government is looking to support farmers and agri-food businesses throughout the eventual rollout and implementation period.

Labour has been at loggerheads with farmers since Sir Keir romped to victory in the 2024 General Election.

An eventual U-turn on a proposed inheritance tax raid on farmland valued above £1million failed to alleviate concerns, with tractors continuing to descend on Westminster to protest against the changes.

Addressing the SPS negotiations directly, CropLife UK Chief Executive Dave Bench said: "(The) event put a human face on what can sometimes feel like an abstract and complex regulatory debate.

"Hearing directly from growers like makes clear that the SPS agreement is not just a trade policy question – it has profound implications for the livelihoods of farmers and the food on British consumers' plates."

Responding to the report released on behalf of CropLife UK last month, a Government spokesman said: "We’re focused on securing a food and drink deal that could deliver up to £5.1billion a year for the UK economy – backing British jobs and helping put more money in people’s pockets.

"SPS deal would slash red tape, cut costs and delays at the border, and lift barriers on a wider range of UK exports to the EU – supporting farmers, producers and businesses across the UK.

"Our negotiations are ongoing, and we’re working with businesses on the ground to shape our approach and make sure they’re ready to benefit as soon as any new arrangements take effect."

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter