Labour has abandoned ambitious plans to tackle lifestyle-related illness after lobbying by food and alcohol firms, health experts have said. In a joint blog, Sarah Woolnough and Jennifer Dixon, chief executives of the King's Fund and Health Foundation thinktanks, accuse ministers of lacking the “political courage” to implement radical policies to reduce harm linked to unhealthy food, alcohol and air pollution.
They warn that inaction on ill-health prevention could cause the NHS to collapse under the weight of avoidable conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. While welcoming moves on smoking reduction, banning junk food advertising to children and outlawing energy drink sales to under-16s, they say bold pre-election pledges for a “prevention-first revolution” have been replaced by “diluted ambition”.
Woolnough and Dixon point to a long history of lobbying weakening health measures. They note that long-promised restrictions on junk food advertising have been delayed, proposals to extend smoking restrictions to outdoor areas of pubs and restaurants were dropped, and minimum unit pricing for alcohol and a Clean Air Act have failed to materialise. Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s threat to use a “steamroller” to force food firms to reformulate products has not been acted upon.
The experts say ministerial timidity is “existential for the NHS”, with health service leaders warning that unless prevention is prioritised, the health service may collapse. They call for bold action on the “huge threats to the public’s health”. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson rejected the criticisms, citing legislation to prevent children from ever legally smoking, a ban on high-caffeine energy drinks for children, and new rules for baby food.
