UK Farmers' Union Calls Autumn Budget a 'Massive Missed Opportunity'
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) says the UK government's Autumn Budget gives food producers no breathing space. NFU president Tom Bradshaw accuses ministers of failing to act on promises made earlier this year.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU), which represents farmers in England and Wales, has described the UK government's Autumn Budget as "a massive missed opportunity" that offers no breathing space for Britain's food production. NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the government had not acted on the warm words it offered over the summer, leaving farmers feeling abandoned.
Food security criticism
Bradshaw pointed to the Office for Budget Responsibility, which has said the outlook for food price inflation is "significantly higher" than in earlier forecasts. In his view, the government has still not linked domestic food production to rising food prices, has not delivered on its commitment that "food security is national security", and has not given farm businesses the "breathing space" the Chancellor said the Budget was meant to provide.
Red diesel and investment
Bradshaw welcomed the extension of red diesel relief but noted that fuel prices are 65% higher than a year ago. He said the extension will therefore offer minimal relief to the cashflow crisis facing farms, and compared it to tinkering while Rome burns.
According to the NFU, the government could have extended the Annual Investment Allowance to cover infrastructure such as on-farm reservoirs or new poultry housing. The union also argued that the family farm tax, which it says stifles investment, should have been reversed.
Confidence in the sector
Bradshaw said that by ignoring these steps, the government has left unaddressed the bottlenecks holding back domestic food production and the sector's overall confidence. He added that ministers had also failed to respond to concerns from retailers, food manufacturers and the wider supply chain serving 29 million households.
The Budget was presented as one for the working people of Britain, but Bradshaw said farmers and growers will not feel that it applies to them. He described the phrase "food security is national security" as nothing but a hollow promise.
