With the Prime Minister saying all the right things this summer about food security being national security, I was somewhat ‘hopeful' that food and farming would have had a bigger presence on the main political stage this year and be better integrated into wide policy discussions around economic growth, health, energy, water, trade and business.
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National renewal
But yet again it felt like it had been pushed out to the fringe events, with a real lack of joined up thinking of how rural Britain can play its part in national renewal and economic growth.
The Chancellor announced a drive around apprenticeships and tackling youth unemployment once and for all, but where was agriculture and food production in this conversation? A missed opportunity in my eyes. Where are the links between Defra and the department for business and trade?
Cross-department vision
We still appear to look at farming as these distinctive businesses, but they are businesses in their own right and must be included in wider policy framework. More so than ever, we need a strategic, joined up cross-department vision for rural Britain.
This Labour Government has big ambitions for new homes, transport links, and energy generation which will depend on rural communities up and down the country.
Listen now:
The PM said he is committed to 'bringing back hope' and growth in every post code in Britain, but it is time to show rural post codes will not get left behind.
