Labour MP Andrew Pakes Calls for a Bold New Food Plan in the UK
Food security must become a core national priority – it’s time we put a plan in place, says Andrew Pakes, the Labour & Co‑Op parliamentary candidate for Peterborough. In a fresh piece for the Social Market Foundation, he urges the next government to set ambitious food‑production targets.
Why Now? The Climate, the Prices, and the Past Misses
- Food‑price inflation is still glaring – a reminder that our current system is brittle.
- The war in Ukraine has knocked out export pipelines you’d expect to take you for granted.
- And last year’s extreme weather showed that even the British countryside can be pretty unpredictable.
These events are the signal lights saying: “We need a more solid plan.”
Pakes’ One‑liner: Make Food Production a National Baseline
“While the UK already chows on 60% of its own produce, we need to push further to stay ahead of future shocks,” Pakes argues. He compares food goals to the lofty targets already baked into energy and climate policy.
What’s Been Missing? A 2008 Legacy and a 2018/22 Gap
There’s supposedly no serious food strategy in sight since the 2008 rollout of Gordon Brown’s plan. Theresa May’s 2018 push, led by entrepreneur Henry Dimbleby, looked promising but fell flat – the strategy was finally published in 2022, by which time it was already a relic. Dimbleby even quit in 2023, dissatisfied with the stagnant progress on tackling obesity.
How the Plan Should Work: Leadership, Spending, and Accountability
- It’s not about pouring money into the pot empty-handed. Pakes calls for smarter public leadership and tight integration across departments.
- Clear targets linked to national security and economic growth are essential.
- Regular food‑security reports to Parliament and new impact assessments will ensure the policy stays productive, sustainable, and beneficial.
Why the Social Market Foundation (SMF) Loves It
Aveek Bhattacharya, SMF’s interim director, praises the essay as a “forward‑thinking kick‑start”. He highlights how the upcoming Parliament will feature fresh faces brimming with new ideas. “Andrew’s piece is just the beginning of a great conversation on what our food system should look like,” he says.
From resilience to working conditions, from poverty to health outcomes, the essay underlines that our food system isn’t ticking as well as it ought to. The call for a national food plan is a welcome shove in the right direction.
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