CHRISTINE Grahame MSP has warned that farmers and food producers in the Scottish Borders could be hit by a post-Brexit trade deal with Donald Trump – after the US ambassador reiterated demands for concessions from the UK.

The Trump administration want the UK to accept different food safety standards than exist within the European Union, allowing US products such as chlorine-washed chicken to be sold in the UK.

The SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale said: “Scotland has top-quality food safety standards, in line with the rest of the EU, protecting consumers and our world-renowned Scottish produce.

“But that’s now under threat, with the Tories planning to sell out Scottish food producers as part of a damaging back-room trade deal with Donald Trump.

“As a member of the EU, local products like Scottish Lamb have been protected from cheap market knock offs - we can’t allow the Tories to take a take a wrecking ball to our booming food and drink sector here in the Scottish Borders.

“The UK government’s shambolic approach to Brexit leaves them in an exceptionally weak bargaining position – with Tory leadership contenders competing to be the most reckless with our economic future.

“There’s a real danger that, if Brexit happens, the next Prime Minister will be absolutely desperate to sign whatever damaging trade-deal Trump demands.

“Scotland voted overwhelmingly against Brexit – and the threat of selling out the Scottish Borders’ food producers shows exactly why we need to stop it.”