Penrith and The Border MP, Dr Neil Hudson, again banged the drum for Cumbrian and UK farmers, in their quest to keep the nation fed when questioning the Government’s food tsar, Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of Leon.
Mr Dimbleby, who authored the National Food Strategy, took part in an evidence session held by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - on which Dr Hudson sits – as part of the body’s Inquiry that Dr Hudson instigated into the pressures facing the UK’s food supply chain. Dr Neil Hudson spoke up for the need to support Cumbrian hill farmers who are increasingly faced with slimmer margins while producing high-quality food as well as the need for international trade deals to reflect British values and for government food procurement to prioritise quality.
Dr Hudson was pleased to hear the expert witness agree with his repeated calls for the UK to uphold Britain’s world-leading animal welfare and agricultural standards in new trade deals. As recently as last month, Dr Hudson made a speech in the House of Commons urging Ministers to stand up for British values in farming by making sure trade partners raise their standards in line with domestic producers.
In tandem with maintaining best practices at home, Dr Hudson again reiterated his calls for a tariff rate quota mechanism which would mean UK authorities could control the flow of goods coming into the country so that domestic farmers are not undercut and can continue their pivotal roles in our countryside life.
Reflecting his rural Cumbrian constituency, particular emphasis was given to rural farmers who are struggling to maintain a profit amid a rapidly changing economic backdrop. Informed by his regular conversations with Cumbrian farmers, Dr Hudson maintained his support for domestic food producers to be prioritised when protecting food security.
Speaking afterwards, Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
“I thank Henry Dimbleby for appearing before our EFRA Committee and for his incisive analysis of the UK’s food systems as laid out in the National Food Strategy. I am really pleased to hear Mr Dimbleby agree with my repeated calls for the UK to uphold Britain’s world-leading animal welfare and agricultural standards in international trade deals
“This session really highlighted the need for Britain’s food security to be as robust as possible. With global affairs increasingly uncertain, we need to make sure that our supply chains remain strong, be it through supporting our world-class domestic farmers, or ensuring foreign producers are up to scratch with their own practices.
“Tenant farmers, smallholdings and commoners in rural Cumbria need more support if they are to continue providing the nation with high-quality British food and maintain the beautiful landscapes that are so pivotal to the tourist economy and our environment.
“Ultimately, from better educational attainment to buoyant productivity levels, our country’s economic wellbeing is linked with a healthy, well-fed society which demands we make sure our food systems work for our world-class British farmers and the families who eat their produce.”
