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Keir Starmer urges government to buy more food from British farmers | Keir Starmer urges government to buy more food from British farmers |
(about 13 hours later) | |
The government should buy more British food, Sir Keir Starmer has said in a speech to the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference. | |
The Labour leader also denied that his party was anti-countryside, calling the idea "more perception than reality". | |
Meanwhile, NFU leader Minette Batters will urge politicians to address the gap between urban and rural areas. | |
Environment Secretary George Eustice also addressed the conference. | |
He promised farmers that, following Brexit, they would be rewarded for "farming more sustainably, creating space for nature on their land, enhancing animal welfare and reducing carbon emissions". | |
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 said the government should look at whether more of its spending on catering 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 also argued that money from his proposed Covid Recovery Bond scheme could go towards helping rural communities, for example by investing in long-term flood protection. | |
The proposed bond, which the Labour leader 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 NFU conference was the first by a Labour leader since 2008 and he used the opportunity to tackle perceptions of a "distance that has grown" between his party and rural communities. | |
He argued that Labour had strong connections to the countryside, citing its support for protecting British food standards. | |
Sir Keir told the online 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 said. | |
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." |