Campaign letter to PM calls for public sector to buy British

The government should spend 85% of its budget for food in schools, hospitals and other public sectors with British farmers and businesses, an open letter to the prime minister has said.

Campaign group Love British Food has called on Boris Johnson to step up support for UK farmers and growers as part of the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

See also: British food standards ‘still at risk from imports’

The letter has been signed by prominent figures in public sector catering, including chef Raymond Blanc.

It says: “Many of us from within the industry are hopeful that the government is capable of doing more to help support local producers during this difficult economic period.

“Currently, taken as a whole, the public sector purchases £2.6bn of food every year. Attempts have previously been made to encourage as much support as possible to be given to local British businesses, but it is clear that there is far more to do.”

The British food & farming industry has heroically supported us.

We're calling on the PM to back them by encouraging the public sector to buy British.

A concerted Govt effort would transform local communities.@BorisJohnson – Let Us Love British!🇬🇧

🚨Read, sign & retweet! pic.twitter.com/SWjJxUCECr

— Love British Food (@LoveBritishFood) December 3, 2020

The letter highlights the “tireless work” of the “dedicated and talented local farmers and producers” who helped ensure food chains did not buckle when panic buying put serious pressure on supermarkets in March and April.

In the direct address to Mr Johnson the letter adds: “Sadly, in the past politicians have too often paid lip service to supporting local British businesses, with very little action following.

“These are not normal times prime minister, and even the optimists among us understand that the next few years of economic recovery will not be easy, our local farmers and producers will need all the help we can give them.

“Many of us working in public sector procurement, along with millions of others who want to see our government properly support local economies, believe now is the right time to make this happen.”