ROBERT Holland makes some very pertinent points about farming and the effects of Brexit on that industry (Craven Herald, letters October 8).

I have to say that reports in the very recent farming press have not added to any sense of optimism.

It is reported that at the recent Conservative Party Conference Liz Truss the Trade Secretary said that it was "dangerous" for the UK sheep sector to be so heavily reliant on the EU market.

That would be the world's largest free trade market on our door step with whom we currently share common standards.

The actual danger is in making that trade more difficult for absolutely no benefit to farmers, the consumer or all the other trades involved in the food supply chain.

Ms Truss would like us to sell lamb to the USA and the Middle East.

The first is thousands of miles away across a large ocean as opposed to 21 miles across the English Channel. The second we already trade with because of our membership of the EU.

It bares repeating that in trade, geography and size matter, so the reason for trading our lamb with the near continent of hundreds of millions is obvious - or should be.

The cynic in me thinks that our beloved Brexit government is trying to lay off the blame for the impending collapse of what Mr Holland describes as a trade "crucial in the economy of rural England".

My cynicism is not helped by the promise from the party of Ms Truss that a trade deal with the EU would be easiest in history and could be done in a day.

My worry is that for what passes for a government the damage Mr Holland and I both fear is acceptable collateral damage in order to get Brexit done.

Anthony Bradley

Long Preston