This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56158435
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Keir Starmer urges government to buy more food from British farmers | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The government should buy more British food, Sir Keir Starmer will say in a speech to the National Farmers Union conference. | The government should buy more British food, Sir Keir Starmer will say in a speech to the National Farmers Union conference. |
| The Labour leader will also argue that the idea his party is anti-countryside is "more perception than reality". | The Labour leader will also argue that the idea his party is anti-countryside is "more perception than reality". |
| Meanwhile NFU leader Minette Batters will urge politicians to address the gap between urban and rural areas. | Meanwhile NFU leader Minette Batters will urge politicians to address the gap between urban and rural areas. |
| Environment Secretary George Eustice is also expected to address the conference. | Environment Secretary George Eustice is also expected to address the conference. |
| Jam firm's sticky year amid Covid-19 spread | Jam firm's sticky year amid Covid-19 spread |
| Starmer targets savers in 'national recovery plan' | Starmer targets savers in 'national recovery plan' |
| Next steps in England's rural revolution unveiled | Next steps in England's rural revolution unveiled |
| During his speech, Sir Keir is expected to say the government should look at whether more of its catering spend could go towards buying British food. | During his speech, Sir Keir is expected to say the government should look at whether more of its catering spend could go towards buying British food. |
| A 2014 government report said the public sector spent about £2.4bn on food for schools, hospitals and the armed forces. | A 2014 government report said the public sector spent about £2.4bn on food for schools, hospitals and the armed forces. |
| Sir Keir will also argue that money from his proposed Covid Recovery Bond scheme could go towards helping rural communities, for example by investing in long-term flood protections. | Sir Keir will also argue that money from his proposed Covid Recovery Bond scheme could go towards helping rural communities, for example by investing in long-term flood protections. |
| The proposed bond, which Sir Keir outlined last week, would offer people a savings account with the government at a competitive interest rate - and the cash raised would then be spent on rebuilding the country post-Covid-19. | The proposed bond, which Sir Keir outlined last week, would offer people a savings account with the government at a competitive interest rate - and the cash raised would then be spent on rebuilding the country post-Covid-19. |
| Sir Keir's appearance at the conference will be the first by a Labour leader since 2008 and he will use the opportunity to tackle perceptions of a "distance that has grown" between his party and rural communities. | Sir Keir's appearance at the conference will be the first by a Labour leader since 2008 and he will use the opportunity to tackle perceptions of a "distance that has grown" between his party and rural communities. |
| He will argue that Labour has strong connections to the countryside, citing its support for protecting British food standards. | He will argue that Labour has strong connections to the countryside, citing its support for protecting British food standards. |
| He will also tell the audience about his experience of working on a farm as a teenager as well as highlighting that Labour's first leader - Keir Hardie - was the son of a farmer. | He will also tell the audience about his experience of working on a farm as a teenager as well as highlighting that Labour's first leader - Keir Hardie - was the son of a farmer. |
| "No party can claim to represent the country, if we don't represent the countryside," he will say. | "No party can claim to represent the country, if we don't represent the countryside," he will say. |
| Minette Batters has been president of the National Farmers Union since 2018 | Minette Batters has been president of the National Farmers Union since 2018 |
| During her conference speech, Ms Batters will warn of a gap between rural and urban communities and call for better broadband, more money to tackle crime and changes to the planning system. | During her conference speech, Ms Batters will warn of a gap between rural and urban communities and call for better broadband, more money to tackle crime and changes to the planning system. |
| Improved connectivity, she will argue, would help farmers diversify their businesses - for example by enabling them to run wedding venues or B&Bs. | Improved connectivity, she will argue, would help farmers diversify their businesses - for example by enabling them to run wedding venues or B&Bs. |
| "Investment in farming and in rural Britain not only brings about obvious benefits to food production but can have massive benefits to the whole country," Ms Batters will say. | "Investment in farming and in rural Britain not only brings about obvious benefits to food production but can have massive benefits to the whole country," Ms Batters will say. |
| "If the past 12 months has taught us one thing, it's that we are all in this together - and a country which levels up everyone, everywhere, is a stronger country." | "If the past 12 months has taught us one thing, it's that we are all in this together - and a country which levels up everyone, everywhere, is a stronger country." |
| Responding to the Labour leader's comments, a Conservative spokeswoman said: "It was Keir Starmer's political games as shadow Brexit secretary that kept us tied to the Common Agricultural Policy that has held our farming industry back for so long. | Responding to the Labour leader's comments, a Conservative spokeswoman said: "It was Keir Starmer's political games as shadow Brexit secretary that kept us tied to the Common Agricultural Policy that has held our farming industry back for so long. |
| "The Conservatives are using our independence to deliver a better, fairer farming system in England, which will be tailored to the interests of farmers." | "The Conservatives are using our independence to deliver a better, fairer farming system in England, which will be tailored to the interests of farmers." |