The Liberal Democrats have pledged to make the food and farming industry fairer and have specifically vowed to “protect consumers from unfair price rises” as part of their 2024 manifesto.
Unveiled yesterday (11 June), the manifesto, among other measures, has promised to strengthen the Groceries Code Adjudicator to ensure shoppers are shielded from grocery price rises and to support producers.
Other potential policies include additional funding options for better farming practices and using public procurement policy to support the consumption of food produced to high standards of environmental and social sustainability.
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The Liberal Democrats would also “give consumers the confidence in the food they eat” by increasing food production inspections, introducing robust and clear-to-understand food labelling, and ensuring all imported goods meets UK standards for health and welfare.
Alongside changes to groceries, the party revealed they would pass a new comprehensive Animal Welfare Bill to ensure no animal product that would be illegal to produce in the UK can be sold here, including foie gras and food produced with antibiotic growth promoters.
In a manifesto-unveiling speech in front of journalists yesterday, Liberal Democratic leader Ed Davey said that the party’s priority was to “solve the cost-of-living crisis for the long-term“.
