With Andy Burnham replacing Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and bringing with him another cabinet reshuffle, the industry has responded with cautious optimism that some policies from the previous government may be looked at again.
The NFU wrote to the Prime Minister on the day of his appointment, reminding him of the essential role farmers and growers play in providing food to the population.
It acknowledged the emphasis Mr Burnham gave to protecting the UK’s manufacturing and production capabilities, including food and farming, and urged him to prioritise the food supply chain’s five-point resilience plan.
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 governments rightly treat defence and energy security 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 in its manifesto that ‘food security is national security’ into meaningful action. With the right policy framework, farmers and growers can drive growth in every constituency, strengthen the UK’s resilience and help ease pressure on households.
“As he further develops his plan for government, Prime Minister Burnham can take immediate action by backing a planning system that unlocks investment, regulation that drives innovation and growth and ensuring there’s the workforce available farming and growing businesses need to thrive. Together, these measures would help build a more resilient food system and we stand ready to work with the government to deliver them.”
Defra reshuffle
With Mr Burnham in Number 10, Angela Eagle has been reappointed to Defra as the Environment Secretary of State, taking over the role from Emma Reynolds.
Mrs Eagle said: “It is an honour to be appointed Environment Secretary, and I am delighted to be back in the Department. I want to thank Emma Reynolds for everything she achieved and giving me strong foundations to work from.
“This government is focused on the things that matter most to the British public. I will be tackling the cost of living; fixing the water system to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas; backing our farmers in growing quality British produce; restoring nature so that we have pride in local communities; and delivering a renewed relationship with the EU to help keep food bills down.
“This is the change people voted for, and I intend to deliver it.”
In response to the reshuffle, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) president Gavin Lane said: “We welcome Angela Eagle back to Defra and are ready to work closely with her to champion our countryside. We also want to thank Emma Reynolds for her hard work and dedication during her time in this role.
“Angela returns to a huge opportunity: £22.5 billion of untapped growth in rural Britain. Behind that figure are thousands of businesses ready to grow and invest. But wild weather, falling profits and damaging tax changes are making it harder than ever to do so.
“As wildfires become routine occurrences in the UK, lifting the ban on controlled burning must be top of her in tray. The creation of fire breaks and reducing the fuel load by limited burning must be considered along with all other potential solutions. We need every tool at our disposal.
“We look forward to working hand-in-hand with Angela and her team to clear these obstacles and put rural Britain back where it belongs: at the heart of the country’s growth story.”
Mr Bradshaw also spoke with Mrs Eagle on her first day in office, with both reportedly stressing that they are ‘impatient for change’.
During the conversation, they discussed the dry weather and wider concerns around water abstraction and availability, as well as the need to reform the planning system.
Mr Bradshaw said: “I’d like to thank the Defra Secretary of State for taking the time to speak with the NFU on her first day in office about the key issues facing food and farming.
“We built a good, constructive and straight-talking relationship during her time as Food Security Minister and I look forward to continuing that as she takes on the Defra Secretary of State brief.
“Farmers and growers are facing significant challenges, from prolonged dry weather and high production costs to uncertainty around agri-environment schemes and wider barriers to growth, including planning. Addressing these issues will be vital if we are to build a resilient and profitable farming sector that can continue producing food for the nation’s 70 million consumers.
“I look forward to working closely with the Secretary of State in the months ahead as we build on the government’s manifesto commitment that ‘food security is national security’ and ensure farming is at the heart of the long-term growth agenda.
“As the Prime Minister develops his 10-year plan, I hope we can work together to ensure British agriculture is recognised as a key partner in delivering economic growth in every constituency across the nation and vital to strengthening the food sector’s resilience for years to come.”