The UK warned of bloodbath by the EU concerning trade deals with the US

The EU has threatened a "bloodbath" against the UK over a projected trade agreement with the US, an EU commissioner has warned.

According to Phil Hogan, head of the EU agricultural and rural development commission, the British PM’s moves to enter into various trade deals with countries outside the EU is a fanciful idea of a new British Empire.

Mr Hogan while delivering his speck in Dublin also frowned at Liam Fox’s push for cheap food importation into the UK from the US and said, such an attempt is seen as reducing the standard being set in the past and may be revolted against by the masses.

Mr Hogan said: ”Liam Fox is pushing for agriculture to be included in such discussions claiming that Americans have been eating hormone beef and chlorine chicken perfectly safely for years, so what's all the fuss about?

"Would British farmers and consumers accept hormone beef and chlorine chicken on their supermarket shelves?

"I seriously doubt it. There may yet be a bloodbath over these issues."

Mr Hogan told the conference, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association, that EU member states ”can rest easy in the knowledge that our negotiating weight in trade deals means that our partners rise to our standards, rather than us lowering to theirs”.

He also suggested claims by Theresa May that the UK will strike similar deals with other countries outside the EU was also questionable.

Mr Hogan further said: ”This aim, based on notions of an Empire 2.0, is somewhat fanciful when you look at the trade-offs the UK would have to submit to in order to do deals around the world.”

He said he hoped June's general election would strengthen Mrs May's hand in facing down the "looney voices on the right of the Tory party" and that Britain would remain within the EU's Customs Union.

He said: ”It is my hope that, over the course of the coming months, the British Government will recognise that the best way to maintain the freest possible trade in goods such as agri-food products is to remain in the Customs Union, and that sense will prevail.”