We were elected on a mission to end the cost of living crisis that gripped our country. If we are serious about that mission, we cannot afford to overlook one of the most immediate pressures families face: The cost of food.

The latest forecasts suggest food inflation could reach at least 9% by the end of 2026. Food inflation is one of the most direct costs to families. It means higher weekly bills, harder choices, and more pressure on household budgets that are already stretched to their limits.

We have seen how this plays out before. The spike in food prices in 2022–23, caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, hit working families hardest. The cost of the weekly shop skyrocketed, driven by rising energy costs flowing through the supply chain.

That pressure is building again.

Food production is energy intensive, with energy accounting for 10–15% of operating costs. When those costs rise, they are passed on. We know it means higher prices for consumers.

We cannot tolerate a system where global shocks are felt most sharply by those with the least ability to absorb them. Nor can we allow a situation where a sector so central to everyday life is left exposed while others receive support.

Government has a responsibility to act.

That means including food and drink manufacturing in the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, recently expanded by the Chancellor. It is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector and a cornerstone of our national resilience and national security. It should not be excluded from support that helps stabilise costs.

It also means taking practical steps to soften the immediate impact of energy prices on the supply chain and looking carefully at the timing of regulatory changes so we are not inadvertently adding costs at the worst possible moment. 

Protecting working people from avoidable cost pressures must remain a core focus of Government, and alongside that, we must support a sovereign, UK food and drink industry. Because its that sector that underpins jobs, communities and food security across our country.

If we get this right, we can ease pressure on families while supporting British industry to succeed. 

That is what a Labour government should do.