As Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, the NFU has reminded him of the vital role farmers and growers play in feeding the nation’s 70 million people.
In a letter to No.10, the NFU welcomed his commitment to protecting the UK’s food and farming sector and called on him to prioritise the food supply chain’s five-point resilience plan. The roadmap sets out practical steps to strengthen food security, unlock investment and jobs, and support growth across the country.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “British farmers and growers are the bedrock of the nation’s food security, putting food on the plates of 28 million households every day. Yet while defence and energy security are treated as national priorities, food security has too often been overlooked.
“As he takes office, Prime Minister Burnham has an opportunity to turn Labour’s commitment that ‘food security is national security’ into meaningful action. By backing investment, innovation and the workforce farming businesses need, the government can build a more resilient food system. We stand ready to work with the government to deliver it.”