M&S chairman warns of higher food prices if wrong post-Brexit deal

Marks & Spencer chairman Archie Norman warned of further political division and higher food prices in Ireland if the UK and European Union fail to reach a proper deal on trade.

Just a day after calling the UK’s Brexit plan for Northern Ireland “stunning”, Norman again warned that a flawed deal “with unnecessary requirements like additional food labeling” would not only result in higher food prices, but a visible one Problem could be in the north – southern division.

“If you’re in Northern Ireland and you know that all your food has to be labelled, or you know you’re paying higher food prices because of something, a consequence of the Northern Ireland Protocol, that doesn’t really help the policy of Ireland,” he said on the sidelines of an event organized by the Global Counsel advisory group in London.

Since Britain left the European Union, London and Brussels have been at an impasse over trade rules, and livestock and food regulations are among the most difficult issues. The UK no longer follows EU rules, requiring costly and time-consuming physical checks to be carried out at the Irish Sea border. This is particularly important for the EU, which wants to ensure that no disease enters its internal market.

Earlier this week, during talks with the EU, Norman urged the UK Foreign Secretary not to consider plans for separate labeling of goods sold in Northern Ireland, calling them “overbearing” and “stunning”.

“We said from the beginning that it can be solved,” said the former Conservative MP. “The best way to solve it is to agree that our current food standards are the same as those in the European Union.”