FDF CEO Karen Betts welcomes new Labour government

Karen Betts, CEO, The Food and Drink Federation said:

Congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer and the UK Labour party on your decisive election victory. We stand ready to work in active, constructive partnership with the new government to provide solutions to the systemic challenges that have impacted our food security and resilience in the past decade. We share three objectives with government:

1.  We have the potential to be a key driver of growth and productivity – but there’s more we can do together with government to boost investment in the sector to make the most of the opportunities ahead in technology, skills and innovation. We want to work with government to tackle the drivers of the food price inflation that has made life harder for families around the country in the last few years, including by taking the cost and complexity out of our trading relationship with our nearest trading partner, the EU.

2. We can work together to build a more sustainable food system that helps the UK achieve net zero and recover our lost biodiversity. From securing sustainable commodities through our supply chains to reducing water use, from using more recyclable packaging to turbocharging our use of green energy, we want to work in partnership with government to drive the change we all need to see.

3. And we recognise the positive role we can play in improving the health of our population. We know our nation’s health is not where it should be, and food and drink manufacturers can help turn it around by supporting healthier diets, working in partnership and collaboration with government.