THE COUNTRYSIDE CHARITY RESPONDS

Commenting on Sir Keir Starmer’s speech to the NFU, Sarah McMonagle, acting director of campaigns & policy at CPRE, the countryside charity, said:

‘The Labour Leader is spot on when he talks about the importance of supporting farmers by ensuring the state buys local. If everyone eats more local food, it means everyone eats better food. Policies on public sourcing and procurement are in the government’s gift. A stroke of a politician’s pen could make sure schools, hospitals and prisons buy from farmers in the UK.

‘Thoughtful changes to government policy could also ensure a thriving network of farming cooperatives that secure the country’s food supply in the long term. Supermarkets can and should play their part, by ensuring more than 10 per cent of the food sold is locally sourced within 30 miles.

‘Where Starmer is deafeningly silent is on nature and its important role in farming and food security. It’s not an either/or choice – nature friendly farming policies will support farmers to deliver bigger crop yields and make their businesses more sustainable in the long term.

‘Supporting farmers is important but there’s a lot more to levelling up rural communities and unleashing the potential of the rural economy and we’d like to hear more from Labour on this. If Starmer wants to cut through with rural voters at the next election, it must start by helping rural communities overcome the major barriers they face, which sees thousands of young people abandoning the places they grew up in because they can’t afford a home or they can’t get around. The magic sauce is properly funded and reliable public transport and truly affordable homes, linked to local wages, that will encourage young people to believe they have a bright future in the countryside.’