close
close

UK food industry hopes new Defra secretary will read the room

Posted on by angelo
UK food industry hopes new Defra secretary will read the room

Steve Reed arrives in Downing Street to be appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Credit: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images.

The phrase “it’s hope that kills you” is said to have been coined – in sentiment, if not in exact wording – by the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger, but it is the human instinct to be enthusiastic when the old is swept away and the new is full of promises of better times to come.

The new Labour government in the UK, taking power after 14 years in what was once memorably described as the Siberia of opposition, is aiming to take office with a bang and, with a huge majority after last week’s general election, has a mandate to take action to deliver improvements across the board.

In welcoming the new government, food industry bodies have reiterated some of their pre-election wishes and provided the new Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Steve Reed, with an aide-mémoire of some of the major issues he faces.

Rod Addy, Chief Executive of the Provision Trade Federation, said: “The PTF welcomes the arrival of the new Government and, together with the rest of the industry, stands ready to work with them to overcome the immediate obstacles and challenges that stand in the way of maximising UK growth.

“These include food security and barriers to international trade, the impact of climate change and its mitigation, the cost of living crisis, the health crisis and labour and skills shortages. While the Government will face financial constraints, there is great opportunity to work in partnership with the pork, dairy and fish industries to support UK employment and GDP to deliver shared objectives.”

Karen Betts, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “If the conditions are right, our sector can drive investment, productivity, innovation and growth across our economy. There are also huge opportunities to improve trade and develop skills across the country, giving more people good jobs and careers in a sector that is at the heart of everyone’s daily lives.”

Access the most comprehensive company profiles in the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain a competitive advantage.

Company Profile – Free Sample

Your download email will arrive shortly

We are convinced of the unique quality of our company profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business. That is why we offer you a free sample that you can download by filling out the form below.

By GlobalData







Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our Services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information about your rights regarding your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our Services are intended for business subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your business email address.

Working in multiple departments

Reed will be aware that the issues of skills and labour shortages will require him to act cross-departmentally with departments such as the Home Office, but Labour’s sentiment to work more closely with the European Union on trade and immigration issues will give hope that improvements can be made that will give food and beverage companies the ability to bring in workers from overseas where labour shortages have emerged after Brexit.

The farming sector will be delighted that Minette Batters, the former president of the National Farmers’ Union, has been given a peerage and she should prove to be a strong voice for farmers and producers in the House of Lords.

But food processors and manufacturers, who sometimes felt overlooked in discussions between the previous government and the wider food sector, and industry observers will note that there has yet to be any discussion about creating a dedicated food minister or appointing a food industry specialist in a food tsar-type role to look at issues such as tackling obesity.

In opposition, Labour promised to introduce a 9pm ban on advertising harmful food products to children. Campaign groups will be pushing them to deliver on this and it will be interesting to see what other tools the new government uses to tackle the weight problems that are so burdensome for the NHS.

So the new government has plenty to do on the agri-food file. The first 100 days of a new government are usually when the bulk of the work is done in terms of future policy initiatives, so we shouldn’t have to wait long to learn more about its plans.