MICHAEL Gove has declared that Brexit will allow Britain to sell more pig’s ears to China, as we can change EU rules.

The Environment Secretary says this would mean in return “we can buy more silk purses for British farmers” - a reference to the old adage about not being able to “make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”.

2 Michael Gove says the UK will be able to sell more pigs' ears after Brexit Credit: Getty Images

He was speaking at a breakfast event at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, and was asked about farming opportunities post-Brexit.

Mr Gove told the fringe meeting hosted by the Countryside Alliance that one area was the potential for the sale of un-pierced pigs' ears.

After talking to farmers in Northern Ireland he said: “Most people will be aware that there are some cuts of the animal that are hugely popular with the British consumer, others a little less.

"But some of those cuts are hugely popular elsewhere: for example pigs' ears are a delicacy in China."

"One of the reasons we've not been as successful as we might have been in selling pigs ears into China is that EU rules dictate pigs like all livestock have ear tags.”

He said that was for “very good reasons” of traceability, but added: “Outside the EU we can have our own traceability mechanisms.

2 He said a change in rules would mean pigs' ears don't need to be pierced Credit: Getty Images

“As a result we can have pigs ears that don't need to be be pierced.

“Un-pierced pigs ears are worth more you will have a competitive fair advantage we can sell more pigs ears to China.

“And that means there can be more bacon and pork and ham from the other joints from the animal that are popular here, sold here.”

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To loud applause by the Tory activists he finished by saying: “So by selling more sows ears to china we can buy more silk purses for British farmers.”

Mr Gove was also handed a bacon sandwich to eat at the discussion, but joked about not wanting to be seen eating it.

Referencing Ed Miliband’s infamous “bacon sandwich moment” he told organisers: “You've set me the biggest challenge any politician can ever face - which is easting a bacon sandwich in public.”