Following a meeting with King Charles this morning [25th October] new Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak, has been confirmed as the new UK prime minister, with the King asking him to form a government.

Rishi Sunak won the Tory leadership contest after rival Penny Mordaunt failed to secure enough backing from MPs, he was the previous chancellor under Boris Johnson. In his first speech, Mr Sunak said that “bringing his party and the UK together would be his utmost priority”.

Mr Sunak aged 42 is the UK’s first British Asian prime minister and the youngest to hold the office for more than 200 years.

Food and Drink Federation Chief Executive Karen Betts said: “Food and drink manufacturers are delighted to see Rishi Sunak become prime minister. As chancellor, he ensured businesses had support to continue operating in extremely difficult circumstances, which was critical to the security of the food and drink supply chain.

“We now face a different set of challenges. Food and drink businesses across the country are facing the toughest trading conditions anyone can remember. We hope the new prime minister will bring stability, not least in economic and energy policy, so businesses can make long-term plans alongside working with government to bear down on record levels of food and drink price inflation. Regulatory reform remains an important part of this, to streamline red tape and stop avoidable costs being imposed on businesses and shoppers when they can least afford it.”

Rod Addy of the Provision Trade Federation (PTF) added: “The food industry, as well as the country, now looks to Rishi Sunak and his cabinet for stability and certainty to address the cost-of-living crisis and continued global supply chain disruption. In particular, food processors need more support to battle high energy costs and tight labour availability.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Confidence needed

Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said: “The industry needs stability and direction now. We need to know what support we will get during the energy crisis. We need a new immigration policy to tackle the ongoing labour shortage. We need a food policy that blends environmental sustainability with food security. And we need the government to work more closely with industry when negotiating trade deals.

“Of all the ingredients that go to generate growth, confidence is the most important thing. Unfortunately, the uncertainty we’ve experienced over the last 12-months has created a lack of confidence to invest in the future of the food sector here in the UK. Our sincere hope is that Rishi Sunak will be able to turn this around.”

British Poultry Council (BPC) chief executive Richard Griffiths highlighted food security saying: “Our food security is more crucial than ever, and it’s a brutal reality our new prime minister must address – and quickly. With the social and economic pressures we face deriving from Brexit, a cost of living crisis and war in Ukraine, access to a secure and affordable supply of food will become one of our nation’s biggest challenges. For the good of our plates and our economic prosperity, we must see Mr Sunak and his new government ensure a robust food security policy that has domestic production at its core.”

Serious challenges

Gwyn Howells, chief executive of Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) commented: “There are serious challenges facing the UK at present. The international situation has seen food security rise up the political agenda, inflation is a concern for both farmers and processors as well as consumers, and the challenge of climate change is ever-present. A period of stability and working together will be key; in Wales and the rest of the UK, with our sustainable red meat production methods, we feel we have many solutions to the challenges we face in balancing food security and our environment.”

Whilst Tony Goodger, from the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) said: “The new prime minister faces an enormous in-tray which can all be whittled down to one key issue, market confidence. As an MP for a rural constituency Mr Sunak is on record as saying; ‘I will do everything I can to help our farmers capitalise on the great opportunities ahead having left the European Union and the Common Agricultural Policy. As global food consumption rises, efficient and competitive farms can grow and export around the world.’

“As constituents of Mr Sunak, AIMS are looking forward to meeting with him to discuss the challenges which our members are facing with regulations and in-put costs, which add unnecessary burdens in order that they remain efficient and competitive in every market they supply, be it domestic or overseas.”

Rishi Sunak picture credit: 10 Downing Street.