Of all the arguments against the inheritance tax reforms, the vogueish idea that self-sufficiency in food is a national-security concern is the silliest
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
NFU policy - absurdly adopted by Sunak - is for a “statutory commitment to ensure the UK’s self-sufficiency does not drop below its current level”. Yet that level is today much higher than much of the 19th and 20th centuries.
not convinced that all this talk of “food strikes” over changes to tax really bolsters the case (made by the NFU and Rishi Sunak) for increasing reliance on domestic producers in the name of “food security”. It rather makes the opposite case: for UK’s historic reliance on a diversity of supply…
Also slightly unconvincing: NFU citing "cost of living crisis" as a grounds for IHT exemptions. Whereas... food-price inflation saw a huge windfall to some farm incomes in 2020-23...
It's profit. At least, it includes fixed and variable costs like fertiliser. 2021-22 and 2022-23 were fantastically good years, especially for cereal farmers. Last year was not so good.
If 100% of the land was given over only to beef, lamb & dairy production it still could not meet current demand for those 3. That's before considering chicken, pork, fruit, veg, pulses etc etc.
We have a food national-security issue whatever we do!
Irony is that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy had more ability to provide food security than anything British politicians have ever or could ever put in place.
It's not about increasing self sufficiency but maintaining a solid base level. Note price spikes in 2010 (drought)-Arab Spring and 2022 +War)There is a balance so your argument is flawed, speaking as an environmental scientist and global food security expert.
Comments
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/audley-residents-speak-out-against-6599598.amp
If 100% of the land was given over only to beef, lamb & dairy production it still could not meet current demand for those 3. That's before considering chicken, pork, fruit, veg, pulses etc etc.
We have a food national-security issue whatever we do!