The change of government delivered by the General Election will have surprised few people in our industry or outside it. The general consensus is largely that the promised package of investment announced around the Downing Street Field to Fork Summit in May was too little, too late for many farmers and growers. As a sector we 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.
For the wider public, the sense that Britain is broken, and that the previous administration was more interested in looking inwards than fixing things have secured a large majority for Sir Kier Starmer’s Labour party. However, a lower share of the vote than in 2017 and poor personal approval ratings for the new Prime Minister suggest that the public are still not convinced by a manifesto that was big on ambition but thin on detail.
Many observers have commented that the Conservatives lost the election, rather than Labour winning it. Following a meeting with NFU President Tom Bradshaw, New Environment Secretary Steve Reed has promised “a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen Britain’s food security.”
However, there are concerns about Labour’s wider economic strategy and it has been suggested that Defra could be first in line for any cuts within Whitehall. If the new administration is to carry out its promises 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, then a strong department will be required.
One thing that farmers have called for since Brexit is a sound, science-based approach to crop protection legislation, but Labour’s previous policy to prevent the use of emergency derogations for neonicotinoids suggests that they may be more wary of the perception of NGOs and campaigners, than sound science.
Likewise, new Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner has been described as a ‘life-long environmentalist’. While the NFU has welcomed his appointment and pointed to a strong history of discussing and understanding agricultural issues and sustainability, others will hope that his environmentalism does not take precedence over food production.
Outlining his priorities for the new government, NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett highlighted the need for a five-year agreement on at least 43,000 seasonal worker visas, the need for a replacement Fruit and Vegetable aid scheme, and an urgent review of the Border Target Operating Model, alongside actions on crop protection and planning.
“We must recognise that pesticides (chemical and biological) are critical resources; those that can pass a risk-based analysis must be as accessible to UK growers as their overseas competitors,” Martin warned. “We need a planning regime that facilitates nursery/farm developments and removes the burden of the Biodiversity Net Gain taxation on new greenhouses.” He stressed; “The simplest way to build confidence is to provide certainty.” Farmers and growers will hope that such certainty comes quickly.”
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