Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom mocked for ‘tea, jam and biscuits’ post-Brexit export plan

ANDREA Leadsom has been ridiculed online after unveiling a plan to boost Britain’s post-Brexit economy by almost £3billion by exporting tea, jam and biscuits.

The Environment Secretary, who was a prominent Brexiteer, has announced a five-year "international action plan" setting out ways to tap into nine markets across 18 countries, including Japan, Australia and New Zealand and Latin America.

It includes an extra £185 million in exports of British products such as tea, jam and biscuits to Japan and an additional £293 million worth of exports to Australia and New Zealand to meet a growing demand for British beer and cider.

Latin America's increasing interest in a wide range of British products, such as whisky and gin, could mean a potential £215 million export boost to the area, according to the plan.

This was exclusively revealed by The Sun and has now been unveiled at SIAL Paris, the world's largest food trade fair.

Speaking at the event she said: "With over £10 billion worth of food and drink sold overseas in the last seven months and exports up almost 6% compared to 2015, there is no doubt we are open for business and ready to trade.

"Our food and drink is renowned for having the very best standards of animal welfare, quality and safety and I want even more of the world to enjoy what we have to offer.

"Scottish salmon, Welsh beef, Northern Irish whiskey and English cheese are already well-known globally and I want us to build on this success by helping even more companies send their top-quality food and drink abroad."

But on Twitter users have made fun of the policy and wonder whether she knows a cup of tea is not the solution to everything.

The account for the TV show Have I Got News For You is asking the tough question - whether Leadsom prefers a hard or soft biscuit.