George Eustice must resign immediately for gross incompetence and lying.

Eustice has for a long time been an advocate of immediate withdrawal from the Single Market and the Customs Union. As Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, it has been made clear beyond any doubt that Eustice was well aware of the effects of EU withdrawal on the shellfish industry before the end of the transition period on 1 January 2021. With prior knowledge of what would happen on leaving the EU and patently aware there was to be no phased withdrawal period, Eustice made no efforts to mitigate the detrimental effects these policies would have on the shellfish industry.

It is not clear if this lack of preparedness was due to incompetence or laziness or a blinding devotion to doctrine. Whatever the case, a situation that could have been managed, mitigated and even avoided has developed into a catastrophe due to George Eustice's complete dereliction of his job, his duty to the electorate as Secretary of State for the Environment.

To add insult to injury Eustice has stated that the EU changed it's rules after 1 January 2021. This has been proved to be patently untrue. Eustice, however, launched a media campaign perpetuating this lie to cover up his lack of action, his lack of management and his culpability.

George Eustice has admirably proved himself to be inept and a liar. These are not qualities that should be tolerated in an elected member of parliament, and especially a Government Minister. This is not just a political mistake, it is creating some very real anxiety as people lose their livelihoods. George Eustice must resign immediately !