Sustain raises food, farming and fishing concerns with PM Boris Johnson's new Cabinet

Sustain's chief executive Kath Dalmeny has sent letters on behalf of the alliance, listing key policy priorities identified through extensive work with alliance members over the past two years. These include:

1. Ensuring ‘no deal’ Brexit does not disrupt British farming and food supplies for vulnerable people, including establishment of a ‘no deal’ Brexit hardship fund
2. Securing robust environment and agriculture policy and legislation
3. Renewing Government’s commitment to the National Food Strategy
4. Supporting a sustainable fishing industry
5. Championing the Childhood Obesity Plan, Soft Drinks Industry Levy and Healthy Start
6. Updating School Food Standards and Healthy Schools Ratings
7. Using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for better food and farming outcomes
8. Guaranteeing food safety, quality and high production standards in trade deals
9. Ensuring transparency and compliance with international agreements
10. Properly funding public health and establishing a Right to Food

Sustain's letters were sent on 25 July 2019 to:

• New Prime Minister Boris Johnson [download pdf]
• New Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid [download pdf]
• New Secretary of State for Defra Theresa Villiers [download pdf]
• New Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss [download pdf]
• Returning Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock [download pdf]
• Returning Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Amber Rudd [download pdf]

Because the letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd contains a call for a 'hardship fund' to ensure that vulnerable adults and children do not experience food crisis as a result of 'no deal' Brexit, Sustain also copied this letter to the Cabinet member with responsibility for 'no deal' Brexit preparedness, Michael Gove.