Analysis: Which party manifesto stands up for food?

EU/CAP

The Tories would push for further reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), press for lower EU spending, and legislate in the first session of the next Parliament for an in-out referendum to be held on the UK’s membership of the EU before the end of 2017.

Labour

“Labour will focus on the completion of the single market and tougher budget discipline, including on those items where spending at the EU level can save money at the national level. That means driving reform of the CAP.”

Liberal Democrats

“Liberal Democrats want continued reform of the CAP, eliminating the remaining production and export subsidies and supporting the development of environmentally-sustainable solutions to growing demand for food.”

Green Party

Like the other parties, the Greens would look to reform the CAP. They also say that should they win power, they’d seek to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

MF: “The effects of exiting the EU – which the Tories could and UKIP would pave the way for – could hit farmers. The pro-EU Lib Dems edge it here with their globally-focused plans foreradicatinggrower-affectingEU mechanisms.”

WInner: Lib Dems

Environment

Conservatives

“We will support a science-led approach on GM crops and pesticides […] and will spend £3 billion from the CAP to enhance England’s countryside over the next five years, enabling us, among other things, to help our bees to thrive.”

UKIP

UKIP supports research into GM foods, including research on the benefits and risks involved to the public, and says it would allow a free vote in Parliament on commercial cultivation. In place of the CAP, UKIP – who would pull the UK out of the EU – says it would introduce a modified UK Single Farm Payment (SFP) scheme of £80 per acre for lowland farms, capped at £120,000. Organic farms would be paid a 25 per cent premium on this SFP, the party claims.

Liberal Democrats

Nick Clegg’s party would “ensure” farming support is concentrated on sustainable food production, conservation and tackling climate change, “shifting CAP payments to the active farmer rather than the landowner.”

Green Party

The Greens would look to “dramatically reduce pesticide use”, and ban neonicotinoids, and say they would look to improve planning guidelines to make bees a priority species in biodiversity strategies. The party would prioritise non-chemical farming methods, and increase support for organic farming.

MF: “Pretty barmy stuff from UKIP,and the Greens’ policies would really throw the cat among the pigeons.The Lib Dems’ manifesto has thepolicies that simultaneously best servethe UK’s farmers and the planet onthis front.”

Winner: Lib Dems

Jobs/Modern slavery

Conservatives

The Tories have pledged to treble the number of apprenticeships in food, farming and agri-tech, and say they would also introduce tougher labour market regulations to tackle illegal working and exploitation.

Labour

Ed Miliband and co. say they want to create a “world-leading” food, farm and fisheries sector that creates better-paid jobs and apprenticeships across the rural economy. A Labour government would also “work with companies to ensure they have sustainable supply chains that are free from slavery and treat their workers fairly”, ban recruitment agencies from hiring exclusively from overseas, and extend the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority where there is evidence of abuse.

Liberal Democrats

“Food policy has been neglected for too long. We will encourage investment, growth, innovation and new entrants, securing the future of the UK food and farming industry.”

MF: “It’s encouraging to see unanimous commitment to future-proofing the farming sector. The Tories have workedto tackle modern slavery during their time in office, but Labour prioritises the issue –a blighton our industry- most in itsmanifesto.”

Winner: Labour

Conservatives

“We will allow farmers to smooth their profits for tax purposes over five years, up from the current two years, to counter income volatility.”

Labour

“We will not increase the basic or higher rates of Income Tax or National Insurance. Nor will we raise VAT, and we renew our pledge not to extend it to food.”

Green Party

The party would “extend VAT at the standard rate to less healthy foods, including sugar, but spend the money raised on subsidising around one-third of the cost of fresh fruit and vegetables”. They reckon this could prevent around 5,000 premature deaths every year.

MF: “We asked the Greens to explainhow they’d subsidise the costof fruit and veg, butdidn’t receive areply. The idea hasthe potentialto boostconsumption, though.”

Winner: Greens

Health

UKIP

“UKIP will train and fund the cost of 800 advisers to work in 800 foodbanks, so the poorest in our society have free and easy access to timely help in their hour of need.”

Liberal Democrats

“[We would] introduce a National Food Strategy to promote the production and consumption of healthy, sustainable and affordable food. Our strategy will increase the use of locally and sustainably sourced, healthy and seasonal food, including in schools and the NHS.” The party’s manifesto also says that it’d maintain the “effective” 5 A DAY campaign.

Green Party

“[We will] help hospitals and schools and other food buyers in the public sector to lead the way in buying sustainable products, and encourage children to be involved in growing and cooking food.”

MF: “Several recent studies have shown many Brits don’t get their 5 A DAY, so it’s odd to see the Lib Dems call it ‘effective’. Although we could do with more detail on the strategy, the Lib Dems seem to be the party most likely to make an impact in government improving the health of the nation.”

Winner: Lib Dems

Governance

Conservatives

“We will liberate farmers from red tape by co-ordinating all visits through a single Farm Inspection Taskforce, which will involve farmers themselves and use data from existing industry schemes, such as Red Tractor.”

Liberal Democrats

“Liberal Democrats have kept farming and the natural environment at the top of the agenda over the past five years. We will ensure it remains a priority in the next Parliament.”

Green Party

“Food supply and farming are not just another business, and we need to ensure that nutritious food is available to everyone at prices they can afford; Decent rural livelihoods and support for rural communities; That there is national and international food security; That farming respects the environment.”

MF: “Red tape, the bane of growers’ lives, needs to be cut, and the Conservatives - the party of business - come across as most likely to follow through on this policy.”

Winner: Conservatives

Conclusion

MF: 'The Lib Dems certainly talk the talk, and thus, are my choice as the party whose manifesto indicates that they would best serve the health of the nation and UK food production. Would they walk the walk, though, should they form part of another coalition? It’s probably best not to dwell too much on that 2010 tuition fees pledge…'