Government Faces Backlash for Stalled Support on British Farming

Sir Keir Starmer is facing renewed criticism from farming groups over the government’s difficulty in fulfilling a manifesto pledge to prioritise British-grown produce in public sector procurement.

A recent report reveals that the target—having half of all publicly purchased food sourced domestically—has still not been met, prompting accusations of “betrayal” from rural campaigners.

Farmers argue that the failure to deliver on this commitment undermines efforts to support the domestic agricultural sector, particularly in light of wider discontent over other policies such as inheritance tax reform and the suspension of environmental incentives.

In response, government officials emphasise that major farming tax changes—including inheritance tax adjustments—are designed to target high-value estates used for tax avoidance, not typical working farms.

They note that a range of exemptions and allowances will raise the effective threshold—sometimes up to £3 million—reducing the number of farm businesses affected.

Additionally, they point out that the budget included measures intended to reinvest in public services that rural communities rely upon.

Nonetheless, the abrupt cancellation of key environmental schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has exacerbated frustration among farmers.

That programme, which incentivised activities like planting hedgerows or minimising pesticide use, has been suspended until 2026—leaving many farmers financially vulnerable and feeling overlooked.