Food industry bodies have welcomed the appointment of Liz Truss MP as the UK’s next Prime Minister, but have asked for closer collaboration with government on key issues such as the Skilled Worker Visa system.
On Monday 5th September, Liz Truss was elected leader of the Conservative Party and the new British Prime Minister.
Starting in the education department, Truss took on her first government role two years after first being elected as MP for southwest Norfolk in 2010. In 2014, she became Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In September 2021, Truss was appointed as Foreign Secretary and then later became the lead negotiator with the EU following Lord Frost’s resignation.
More collaboration
A spokesperson from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said that the trade body would like more direct communication with the UK meat industry from the new Prime Minister.
They said: “Given the current challenging trading conditions and threats to the supply chain, we would ask the new Prime Minister and her chosen secretaries of state to engage more closely and collaboratively with industry so they can properly understand the issues we face and apply that insight to policy decisions going forward.”
Rapid response needed
Chief executive of the International Meat Trade Association (IMTA) Katie Doherty said that, though Truss will have detailed knowledge of the food industry from her time as Secretary of State for Defra, she will need to respond quickly to the current challenges.
Doherty explained: “She will need to recognise and respond rapidly to the challenges facing the food industry including energy costs as we enter the winter period. We engaged with the new PM when she was Defra Secretary on the importance of gaining and maintaining access to export markets for parts of the animals less consumed in the UK. We hope she will recognise that continuing to fund and promote government work in this area will be key to getting our meat sector through what will be a challenging year.”
She added: “The development of the Target Operating Model must continue but we would ask that the Prime Minister consider the timeframe that is currently set on, as there has not been sufficient time for engagement on the detail of The Target Operating Model. For it to truly mean benefits are realised both by businesses and consumers, it is imperative that proposals are properly tested with stakeholders.”
Reforms required
A spokesperson from the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) Tony Goodger said that the new Prime Minister Liz Truss will be very aware of the challenges facing the meat and poultry industry, given her background as an MP for a rural constituency and an accountant by training.
He explained: “During her successful bid to become Prime Minister, she has spoken about her desire to tear up the red tape and unnecessary regulations which are holding British businesses back. This along with the desperate need to reduce electricity bills for the food industry must be at the top of her agenda, as both drive the cost of production and thus food inflation.”
Goodger continued: “We also ask that the new PM along with whoever she appoints as Home Secretary immediately look at reforms to the Skilled Worker Visa system. The current over burdensome system with its unrealistic English language requirement has hampered labour recruitment at a time when businesses need to get back on their feet post pandemic. Again, this barrier to recruitment has been a contributory factor in driving up food bills for hard working families as well as making British exports of meat and poultry less competitive.”
He added: “AIMS and our members look forward to working with the Secretary of State at Defra and the Ministerial team there; and believe that a close partnership will be beneficial for the whole of the meat and poultry industry.”
Action must be taken
The British Frozen Food Federation’s (BFFF) has called for new prime minister to act immediately to address the cost of production crisis being faced by UK food manufacturers.
BFFF CEO Rupert Ashby said: “The new PM needs to address the soaring costs being faced by the UK’s food producers or risk many people going hungry this winter.
“There has rightly been a great deal of focus on the rising costs of energy, but less debate about the knock-on effects it is having on businesses that keep the country fed.”
He added: “Our members have been hit with a triple whammy of rising costs for ingredients, packaging and transport all of which are driving-up production costs, which will have to be passed onto consumers if they are to stay in business. This will drive up the cost of the weekly shop making feeding a family unaffordable for many people.”
Ashby called for the new premier to take the following action:
- Put in place a major support package that will reduce the price food producers are paying for energy
- Ease labour movement regulations to ensure that growers and food manufacturers can attract more seasonal and permanent staff to harvest and produce the food the country needs
- Permanently suspend proposed checks on EU goods entering the UK. The legislation has already been delayed four times and its introduction will only succeed in creating more costly delays for BFFF members importing ingredients
- Take action to fight climate change and improve the nation’s health by reducing the 4.5 million tonnes of edible food thrown away by UK households every year
- Reintroduce the red diesel rebate for auxiliary engines used to power transport food refrigeration units.
Ashby added: “We have already waited too long whilst the Conservatives chose their new leader. We cannot afford further delays or the winter ahead will be one of the most difficult the country has faced in many years.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
