AS Boris Johnson was officially announced prime minister of the UK, agricultural organisations reacted to the General Election result.

President of the NFU, Minette Batters, said that the NFU would start to work with the new government straight away, with Brexit being top of the list of issues.

“It’s imperative that we secure a trade deal with the EU that is as free and frictionless as possible, avoiding the damaging spectre of trading with our largest partner on WTO terms. Alongside this, our future trade policy mustn’t allow imports of food produced to standards that would be illegal to produce here.”

CLA president Mark Bridgeman said he had doubts that the Conservatives could agree a trade deal with Europe by the end of next year.

“Assuming we leave the EU later this month, we will have less than a year to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with Europe or else once again, no deal is back on the table,” he said. “This timeframe is hugely optimistic. The idea that the EU can shrug off a dramatically reduced trade relationship with the UK is naive. With a stable government in place, at least the prime minister can negotiate with a greater degree of strength than before the election.”

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker called on the new government to fulfil its promises.

He said: “The prime minister has repeatedly made promises about Brexit, and the NSA will do everything it can to hold the Government to account.

“We have some strong assurances from the prime minister; that a no deal at the end of 2020 should not be feared because a free trade deal with the EU can be reached by the end of 2020; that no restrictions/hurdles/paperwork will be needed relating to movement of goods between our mainland and Northern Ireland; and that British farmers will be protected from lower standard and cheaper products entering the UK market.”