FDF “Heartened” by Leadsom’s “Optimism” About UK’s Post-Brexit Industry
04 Oct 2016 --- The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has praised the speech given by the new Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), citing Andrea Leadsom's "optimism" regarding the industry as "heartening."
Leadsom yesterday addressed the Conservative Party at the party's annual conference, in which she praised the UK's food and drink industry and its importance to the UK economy in a post-Brexit world.
Leadsom said: “I want every person in every corner of the globe to know that we're open for business and ready to trade.”
“At the beginning of this year we launched our Great British Food Unit to promote our food and drink worldwide.”
“We're selling coffee to Brazil, sparkling wine to France and naan bread to India."
Responding to the speech, Ian Wright, Director General of the FDF said: “The Secretary of State's confidence in our sector and optimism for the future are heartening.”
“As discussions regarding Britain exiting the EU begin, this country's 6,500 plus food and drink producers are looking to their ambassadors in Government to secure a workable future relationship with the EU.”
“As the UK's largest manufacturing sector, employing 400,000 people across the UK and contributing £21.9bn ($28bn) to the UK economy, our industry is a major national asset and the envy of the world.”
“Our industry requires a stable economic environment in order to remain competitive as we look to continue increasing levels of productivity, growing exports to exceed the £12.3bn ($15.7bn) figure achieved in 2015 and trebling our apprenticeship workforce by 2020.”
“We remain committed on the need for Government to recognize the strategic importance of our industry in EU exit negotiations, in the face of resulting uncertainty following the decision to leave the EU. We offer our expertise and insight to the Secretary of State and share her enthusiasm for our vibrant industry.”
The FDF, whose members voted by majority to stay in the EU, has been proactive in lobbying the government since Brexit highlighting the importance of the industry UK trade, publishing a manifesto on the subject as it seeks clarification in key areas.
These include addressing currency volatility, how the UK will replace the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and clarification on EU grants to the food and drinks industry.
The speech by Leadsom, who lost out in the PM leadership race to Theresa May, however was not welcomed in all quarters.
Liberal Democrat environment spokeswoman Kate Parminter said: “I cannot believe that Andrea Leadsom was nearly our Prime Minister.”
“On a day that meat was produced from British pigs has been shown to be infected with a livestock strain of MRSA, the Defra Secretary said nothing about it.”
“We still have no idea what Brexit will mean for farmers. We have no promise of long-term funding for farmers and no conversation started about how farmers can be rewarded for delivering public goods.”
By John Reynolds
