The fact that the general election delivered a Labour government will surprise almost no one. They have a large majority, but a lower share of the vote than 2017 and low personal approval ratings for the new Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer suggest that the public are still not convinced by a manifesto that was big on ambition but thin on detail.
Several observers have commented that this wasn’t an election that Labour won, but which the Tories lost. For those in the horticultural sector who have endured chaos and uncertainty in terms of worker visas, import checks, and lost export markets due to increased paperwork, and an uncertain mess of crop protection legislation, there will be little to miss from the outgoing government. As celebrity chef turned Green Party activist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall commented on election night, the Conservatives are perceived by many as the party that has turned against nature, good food and good agriculture.
However, Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street summit earlier this year was accompanied by more positive announcements for horticulture than the rest of the Conservative administration put together, and the election has seen a wealth of farming knowledge lost from the Commons.
In his victory speech, Sir Kier Starmer said, “change begins now.” However, that means for horticulture is uncertain. Before the election, the NFU were wary of a lack of farming budget in Labour’s manifesto, while political insiders warn that while Rachel Reeves may be a safe pair of hands as the UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, the incoming administration is going to be focused on spending, with cuts predicted in many government departs (and possibly arms-length bodies), with Defra a key target.
How many recent policies will survive and, if they do, how well a slimmed down Defra will be able to deliver them will be a key focus for agriculture and horticulture. Potential tax changes may also have longer-term impacts on land values and succession planning for family businesses. Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed has expressed his ambition to take the role forward in cabinet, but at the time of writing the new ministerial team was still to be confirmed.
Growers will be hoping that promises encompassed in Labour’s ‘New Deal for Farmers’ to tackle fairness in the supply chain, improve rural broadband and communications infrastructure, boost public sector purchasing of UK fruit and veg, and accelerate growth will be easy wins.
Given the nature of the vote, it looks as if Labour will not be granted any form of honeymoon period. They have already indicated that many of their key policies on economic growth will take at least two terms to delivery, but the indications suggest that unless the voting public (including businesses, farmers and growers) see some tangible action and improvement in their circumstances within a couple of years, Labour may be lucky to be afforded the luxury of long-term planning.
To read more from “The Commercial Greenhouse Grower” subscribe today – find out more here.
