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The secretary of state for transport said that British farmers would grow more food if we were to crash out of the EU without a deal.

Chris Grayling told Andrew Marr he does not think Britain will leave the EU without an agreement with the bloc.

Asked about the consequences of a 'no deal Brexit' on food prices Mr Grayling said: "It would mean producers, supermarkets bought more at home, that Brit farmers produced more, that they bought more from around the world and it would damage French producers and continental producers."

There have been increased fears of a so-called 'no deal Brexit' after the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier admitted this week’s fifth round of negotiations finished without making any “great steps forward”

(Image: PA)

Asked about the progress of the negotiations, Mr Grayling said the discussions are where he would "expect them to be".

He added: "I mean to anybody honestly think we were going to walk into a room with the European Union, shake hands and do a deal in half an hour?"

"These are going to be lengthy negotiations they're going to be challenging negotiations.

Mr Grayling was played a clip of a previous interview he gave in which he said he had "no doubt at all" the UK would continue to trade tariff-free with the EU.

"I still agree with myself," he told the programme.

Despite weeks of Tory turmoil over Brexit, Mr Grayling insisted the Cabinet is united on wanting the best deal for Britain but said the Government must be "upbeat" about the future.

He dismissed suggestions Chancellor Philip Hammond was sabotaging Brexit.

Asked if he should be sacked, Mr Grayling said: "In a month's time the Chancellor is going to deliver a very important budget for this country and I'm working with him and we are all behind him in delivering that."

On the issue of a no-deal Brexit, leading 'Leave' campaigner Chris Grayling told the BBC: "I don't think we'll get to that position."

But he insisted that whatever happened the UK would be fine.

"This country will succeed whatever happens. We have a hugely impressive track record in the world, we trade around the world."

Labour MP Peter Kyle, a backer of the Open Britain campaign group, said Mr Grayling was “taking the British people for fools if he thinks we can just dig for victory”.

Mr Kyle added: “British farmers are dependent on workers from Europe coming here to harvest crops. Without them, our agricultural industry will face massive labour shortages, raising the price of food in the shops.”

Lib Dem farming spokesman Tim Farron claimed falling back on World Trade Organisation tariffs would “collapse” British food exports. The National Farmers’ Union has previously warned Britain’s home-grown food production is “falling and in long-term decline.”

Jenny Chapman MP, Shadow Brexit Minister, said it was another example of the government's 'chaotic approach to the negotiations'.

"Rather than planning for no deal, ministers appear to be telling us to dig for no deal. British farmers already work incredibly hard and to suggest that they could simply grow more food is ridiculous.

"The truth is the biggest threat to Britain crashing out of Europe with no deal is Tory infighting.

"Ministers should stop fighting amongst themselves and start putting the national interest first.

"That means avoiding a cliff edge for our economy and agreeing strong transitional arrangements within the single market and a customs union".