THE founder and chairman of pub company J D Wetherspoon faced tough questions as he visited Carlisle to voice his views on Brexit.

During his talk at the chain’s Woodrow Wilson pub on Botchergate, Tim Martin shared his thoughts with customers about the huge economic advantages of leaving the EU on March 29 without a deal.

And he spoke of the benefits of adopting the free trade approach of countries like New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Singapore.

The high-profile Brexit supporter argued that those advantages would be lost if the government signs up for a deal with the EU, which keeps the UK tied in to the EU customs union.

A question and answer session with a number of customers followed the discussion, with various questions including the implications of Brexit on local business, and the impact of no-deal being raised.

Mr Martin’s pub-crawl tour of the county also included a visit to Whitehaven, and Barrow.

Speaking to the News & Star after the question and answer session, Mr Martin explained the reasons behind his visits.

“I’m visiting Cumbria because I believe there is a lot of doom and gloom about Brexit.

“I think we’re much better off with no deal.

“We can avoid paying £39 billion, which is £600 per person [to the European Union].

“We can regain control of fishing, as 60 per cent of the fish today are caught by non UK boats, and what’s good for fishing is good for the country.

“We can eliminate tariffs on thousands of products, such as coffee, avocados, oranges, bananas, New Zealand wine, and 12,000 products that we pay for each time we go to the shops - we can become a free trading nation.

“So I think that is a big benefit, combined with an increase in democracy.”

Mr Martin also hit out at the European Union, claiming it is centralising.

“The EU is becoming more and more undemocratic, it’s centralising, taking power away the people, and democracy is essential for the future of humanity, and for prosperity.

“What’s good for the UK is good for Cumbria, and what’s good for Cumbria is good for our pubs.

“The fact we can invest the £39 billion in the UK, part of which will be in Cumbria, we can eliminate tariffs on things people buy in the shops.

“It means people will have more money leftover from what they normally buy, and I think it’s a plus for Cumbrians,”

Mr Martin also revealed that it isn’t likely he will expand his pub empire any further in the county any time soon.

“We’ve opened a lot of pubs, with nearly 900 now across the country, and we’re in a lot of the obvious places.

“But we are, for example, building roof gardens etc, and spending time on improving what we’ve got.”

When quizzed on the issue of stockpiling, Mr Martin also dismissed the issue his chain would stock up on food and drinks products in the event of a no deal.