FAMILY farms in Ceredigion “should not be left without a voice” in Brexit negotiations, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate has said.

Ben Lake, who has been visiting farms as part of his election campaign, said also he wants to make sure that family farms are not left without subsidies by Westminster.

“The London parties will listen to the big farmers of England; we must fight to give Ceredigion’s farmers a voice,” he said.

“If the Tories settle for a bad Brexit, substantial tariffs will be placed on food from Wales, especially lamb and beef.

“Consecutive Westminster Governments have shown a lack of knowledge of the needs of Welsh farmers, and so there is a real danger that the Government in London will strike a bargain with New Zealand – with one of the first demands being to sell cheap lamb in the UK.

“It may be okay for the grain barons in Norfolk – but that it would be a disaster for our farmers.

“There’s a danger too that a London government – Tory, Labour or Lib Dem – will keep money and power that comes back from Brussels.

“If I’m elected, I will join a team of Plaid Cymru MPs who will fight together for our farms.

“Our message – not a penny less in grants and a fair market for all.”

While many farmers voted to leave the EU in last year’s referendum over concerns regarding disproportionate EU rules, regulations and bureaucracy, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has called for policies outside the EU to “respect” the current balances of power between devolved nations.

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