UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson “needs to get his act together” and secure a trade deal with the EU, said Tavish Scott, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO).

Farmed salmon is the UK’s biggest food export and the EU is a major customer.

Scottish salmon exports rose 22% in 2019 to a record high of £618 million, according to official statistics released by the UK Government’s HMRC.

For the third year running, France emerged as the largest market for Scottish salmon with sales worth £221 million, followed by the US (£179 million) and China (£59 million).

The EU accounted for 56% of the volume of global Scottish salmon exports and 52% of the value.

Scott told the Financial Times: “Boris Johnson needs to get his act together …

“He’s got to decide what side he is on: is he on the side of business or is he on the side of politics?”

Scott continued: “A deal is really important because the alternative is disruption to trade lasting, I think, not just weeks, but potentially a long, long time …

“The really significant danger is at the pinch point that is the Channel …

“With a no-deal Brexit that blockage would be appreciably worse than if there is a deal.”