MPs have warned that Andy Burnham must prepare for future droughts to help stave off fears around shortages in food production. The warning comes following several heatwaves this year as well as droughts across the country which have sparked alarms over a tough harvest.
Harvests battered by water shortages
This paper has extensively covered the impact the droughts have had on British farmers, many of whom face extremely tight margins already. Harvests have taken a battering this year as many rural businesses report water shortages have left their fields empty.
Writing for the Sunday Express, the shadow food and rural affairs minister Victoria Atkins warns that the "warning signs" of water shortages have been around for months. "The levels of reservoirs have plummeted, crops in fields have withered in the heat, wildfires have devastated landscapes, and farmers are wondering whether their businesses can survive," she wrote.
Atkins criticises Labour response
She added: "Andy Burnham has spent his first few weeks in office governing on 'vibes', but so far, he has totally failed to grasp the issues coming from this drought. A phone alert banning barbecues doesn't cut it."
"Resilience can't be built overnight. Today's decisions determine whether Britain is prepared for future droughts or left scrambling to respond once another crisis has already arrived. The first step is making sure farmers can invest in their farms. Family farms are the backbone of British agriculture, and they have been pummelled by Labour."
Government funding package announced
Andy Burnham's government has recently announced a new package of funding to support farmers during droughts. It also intends to build more reservoirs, and has announced an initial seed of cash to get that process started.
But Ms Atkins warns Labour have failed to act or listen to the countryside and its custodians. She writes: "It's the now-classic Labour story; listening to political campaigners and lobby groups in London, instead of the people who actually manage the land. Policy needs to be about what works, not just what appeases some environmental pressure groups."
