Westminster rally to issue call to arms over food security

Save British Farming (SBF) will deliver a dramatic “call to arms” in Westminster next week, warning the UK is sleepwalking into a national food security crisis.

Under the banner “Food and farming in a time of war”, the campaign group will stage a wartime-themed street spectacle and press conference on Tuesday 29 April at London’s National Liberal Club, in Whitehall Place.

SBF founder Liz Webster is urging farmers planning to attend to bring their vintage tractors, farm dogs – as a tribute to the 1939 Pet Massacre – and wartime memorabilia.

Farmers must register in advance via Eventbrite.

See also: Forgotten wartime letters show value of food security

Mrs Webster described the event as “a wake-up call for politicians and the public”, warning that Britain’s food system is being dangerously overlooked.

“Tim Lang’s recent report on food security (PDF) has been ignored, and the government continues to make decisions that shrink British agriculture,” she said.

“There is still no national food plan. Food has been sidelined as a public good and replaced by environmental metrics – but as the world turns inward, this neglect becomes ever more dangerous.”

Mrs Webster said the government has been ramping up the rhetoric about the growing threat of Vladimir Putin’s Russia to Britain’s national security.

But while Labour has been increasing defence spending, it has failed to recognise that “food security is national security”.

“In the run-up to the Second World War, Britain failed to prepare. When war hit, panic led to the killing of nearly a million pets in a single week.

“We cannot repeat that. It’s better to be prepared than to panic,” she said.

The event’s expert panel includes Dr Sean Rickard, Dr Clive Black, Prof Chris Elliott, Prof Anthony Glees, and former home secretary James Cleverly.

Key topics will include the risks of import dependency, the post-Brexit collapse in domestic support, and what urgent steps are needed to safeguard British food.

“Next week’s panel event aims to remind the government that in an increasingly volatile world, national security is about more than just steel production and weaponry,” said Mrs Webster.

“An army marches on its stomach. And those who feed the army –  farmers, food workers, manufacturers – must be protected too.”

UK government stance

The Labour government acknowledged that “food security is national security” in its 2024 general election manifesto.

It has pledged to support British farming while safeguarding the environment, aiming to ensure that half of all food purchased across the public sector is locally produced or meets high environmental standards.

In addition, Labour plans to introduce a land use framework and collaborate with farmers to implement sustainable farming practices.