Re:fresh delegates will get a first-hand response to the general election result and its potential impact on the fresh produce industry, now that prime minister Gordon Brown has chosen a date just seven days before the trade’s largest annual gathering on 13 May.
Opening the Re:fresh Conference this year is Iain Dale, one of the UK’s best-known political commentators, who has established a wide following. not only through his blogs at
www.iaindale.co.uk but across all forms of media. He has commented regularly on food issues and will give a Westminster view on the government.
Dale predicted a Conservative majority of 12 seats in January and stuck by that prediction when the PM announced that 6 May would see the nation head to the polls, one week before Re:fresh takes place at the InterContinental London Park Lane, on 13 May.
On Tuesday’s announcement, Dale was typically forthright. “Strike one to David Cameron,” he posted. “The pictures of Brown skulking into the back entrance of Downing Street avoiding the cameras, while a vigorous David Cameron spoke to an open-air audience by County Hall, were striking in their contrast. Cameron was optimistic, inspiring and positive. When Brown came out of Downing Street and spoke to the cameras, he was almost sepulchral. No optimism, full of negativity and he almost seemed to be going through the motions.”
Fresh Produce Consortium ceo Nigel Jenney said: “Expect more of the same on 13 May, whichever party is in power. The country will have had seven days to digest the results, but as we all know a week is a long time in politics, and Iain Dale is as close to the centre of the action as any analyst.”
To book your places at the Re:fresh Conference 2010, sponsored by Prophet and Florette, go to www.refresh.eu/register
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