GETY Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom sought to reassure farmers over EU migrant labour

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The Cabinet minister, a leading Vote Leave campaigner, indicated agricultural employers will be handed a loophole to escape the Prime Minister’s promised restriction on EU immigration. Seeking to reassure farmers in the wake of the EU referendum result, Ms Leadsom insisted she is ”absolutely committed” to ensuring farmers are able to access seasonal labour. The UK’s food and farming industry relies heavily on EU migrant labour, with 95 per cent of berries grown commercially in Britain picked by workers from other European countries. Industry groups have estimated 90,000 seasonal workers in horticulture alone will be required in Britain by 2019.

Theresa May has vowed putting controls on EU immigration will be a ‘red line’ in upcoming divorce talks with Brussels. The Government is already believed to be considering plans for a post-Brexit seasonal worker scheme to allow EU migrants to enter the UK for a fixed period. And Ms Leadsom, speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, hinted farmers will be still be able to hire EU seasonal workers under a new immigration system. She said: “I know how important seasonal labour from the EU is, to the everyday running of your businesses. “I’ve heard this loud and clear around the country, whether in Herefordshire, Sussex, or Northamptonshire, and I want to pay tribute to the many workers from Europe who contribute so much to our farming industry and rural communities. “Access to labour is very much an important part of our current discussions – and we’re committed to working with you to make sure you have the right people with the right skills.”

I know how important seasonal labour from the EU is, to the everyday running of your businesses. Andrea Leadsom

Experts have recently suggested advances in technology, such as driverless tractors and other highly automated machines, could help farmers avoid labour shortages after Brexit. In her address, Ms Leadsom told farmers “a strong, skilled workforce will allow you to focus on how the latest technology can transform your business” as she pointed to a £160m Government spend on a dedicated agricultural technology strategy. The Environment Secretary, who dramatically dropped out of the race to become Britain's next prime minister last summer, added: “Agri-tech is where the future of food and farming lies – and I’ve seen for myself how smart innovations can cut costs for farmers and help the environment.” Ms Leadsom said dealing with Brussels "red tape" and farm inspections is estimated to cost £5 million a year to the industry and takes up 300,000 hours, as she declared slashing EU regulations will free up farmers to grow more food. She said: "For too long, a bureaucratic system which tries to meet the needs of 28 countries has held farmers back. "But now, leaving the EU means we can focus on what works best for the UK. "By cutting the red tape that comes out of Brussels, we will free our farmers to grow more, sell more and export more great British food whilst upholding our high standards for plant and animal health and welfare. "My priority will be common sense rules that work for the UK."

THE BREXITEERS Sun, January 17, 2016 Brexit: Independent experts have drawn up a list of the most influential people on Brexit Play slideshow 1 of 51