Should we expect better! An assessment of UK Political Party Manifesto commitments to addressing issues with the UK food system
By Graham Brown: CVS Operations and Insight lead and Food Coordination lead
Food lobby groups, Academics, Charities, Activists and many others would all argue the current UK food system isn’t working. Yet food is a huge part of all our lives, nourishing and fuelling us. It impacts our health (poor diet is now the biggest risk for preventable disease, placing massive strain on our NHS) happiness and overall prosperity: one in seven UK workers is employed in the food system, which contributes over £120 billion to the UK economy.
So, now that all the main UK political parties have released their Manifestos for Government, we’ve had a look at each in the context of UK food system. Whilst there have been no significant announcements about food or food policy – strange when you look at the stats above, there have been some broad pointers of what to expect: the importance of food security and improving things for UK farmers (but no specific mention of Horticulture (which could support the growth of the school fruit and veg scheme). No mention of the continuation of that scheme (over 120 schools in Cheshire East sign up to it), there may be free school breakfast clubs for every primary school pupil (great news!), and we will get a National Food Strategy.
There are all steps in the right direction. But there’s no firm commitments to address facts such as the Trussell Trust distributing more than 3.1 million emergency food parcels (1.2m for Children) (23/24) or 14.8% of households (20% with Children) experiencing food insecurity in January 2024 (rising to 45% if families are on Universal Credit).
Party Manifestos - summaries
Below is a summary of the main UK Political Paty Manifestos evaluated across a range of topics:
|
Topics |
Political party |
|||
|
Conservative |
Green |
Labour |
Lib Dem |
|
|
Food Strategy |
No mention |
No mention |
No mention |
Yes |
|
Food Security |
Legally binding target to enhance our food security / alongside UK Food Security Index Boost domestic food production
|
Fair wages for growers increase the amount of food in the UK / locally |
In the context of supporting British farmers |
Through a National Food Strategy |
|
Household food insecurity |
No mention of foodbanks or other community food support |
Mention of foodbanks – but not what they are going to do about it Fair prices for consumers |
Reducing food prices End dependencies on emergency food parcels
|
End food poverty Tackling rising food prices
|
|
School food |
Mention of free school meals – but no commitment to increase / expand No mention of any of the existing schemes such as National School Breakfast programme |
All children to have a free school meal each day and free breakfast clubs for children to Year 6 Schools to involve children in growing, preparing and cooking food, as part of the core Curriculum.
|
Free breakfast clubs in every school No commitment to any existing scheme |
Extend free school meals to all children in poverty, all primary school children when the public finances allow No mention of any of the existing schemes such as National School Breakfast programme |
|
Health Inequalities |
Legislate to restrict the advertising of products high in fat, salt and sugar Gather new evidence on the impact of ultra processed food to support people to make healthier choices No commitment to existing schemes such as Healthy Start |
Taking on the unhealthy food lobby Producing more healthy, nutritious food No commitment to existing schemes such as Healthy Start
|
Banning junk food advertising aimed at children Banning energy drinks for under 16s No commitment to existing schemes such as Healthy Start
|
Improve health and nutrition Protecting children from exposure to junk food by supporting local authorities to restrict outdoor advertising and restricting TV advertising to post-watershed No commitment to existing schemes such as Healthy Start
|
|
Food for the planet |
At least 50% of public sector food is produced locally or to higher environmental production standards |
Good quality surplus food is not wasted Financial support for farmers to be almost tripled to support their transition to nature-friendly farming |
Half of all public sector food to produced locally Environmental land management schemes
|
Rollout of the new Environmental Land Management to support profitable, sustainable and nature-friendly farming. Public procurement policy to support the consumption of food produced to high standards of environmental and social sustainability, and which is nutritious, healthy and locally and seasonally sourced |
Cheshire East context
In terms of what is important in Cheshire East and, part of our Right to Food strategy, there is no commitment to the following…
- a cash-first solution to addressing household food insecurity - helping to lift people out of poverty and reducing food bank use significantly
- extending the Household Support fund – a key support mechanism for Local Authorities to help the most vulnerable families
- a continuation of existing School food initiatives such as breakfast programmes and the free fruit and veg scheme – for some children this may be their only means of breakfast / and or fruit and veg
- Healthy Start and in particular auto enrolment – which would address the persistent low uptake.
This is just a small selection of Food related issues. If you are interested in what else is being asked for then please refer to Food NGOs - The Food Foundation and Sustain Manifestos for more detail.
What's next?
Why not get out to hustings or email the prospective parliamentary candidates standing in the area you work in. To help we have created a Hub with a range of resources – including a letter that can be sent to the parliamentary candidates standing in the four constituencies that make up Cheshire East.
Author
Dan Carroll