2024 political party manifestos
The General Election due on 4 July, 2024 will have significant implications for the future of the UK’s food and farming policy landscape.
Our manifesto tracker explores political party commitments on food and farming and evaluates how these pledges align with the Sustain Manifesto 2024, with assessments provided by our colleagues specialising in various themes such as farming, climate, public health and local action.
About the manifesto tracker
In creating the tables of political party commitments, grouped by theme, we have endeavoured to use the exact wording from the manifestos whenever possible, but there are instances where we have paraphrased. Please let us know if you notice any omissions. Where we have made a comment within the table, we have identified this [in square brackets], usually where an explanatory note was needed to make the link to food and farming.
We have also included some commentary from Sustain, and we encourage you to explore our General Election Hub where we have included General Election 2024 activity from our expert members.
N.B. Alignment with elements of the Sustain Manifesto does not imply Sustain's endorsement of any specific political party or candidate. We encourage all parties and candidates to champion a healthier, sustainable and fairer food system that is accessible for all. We hope that all parties will take bold action to achieve this goal and we look forward to working with a cross-party range of parliamentarians over the next 5 years.
Sustain General Election Toolkit
Our toolkit equips you with everything you need for this election: key dates, campaigning guidelines, tips for engaging with your candidates and more…
Sustain General Election Manifesto
We believe transforming the food system should be front and centre this election.
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Our ask: Sustain’s Manifesto called on all political parties to implement a land-use framework; provide funding for agroecological farming; strengthen supply chain regulation; provide support for local food and shorter, fairer supply chains; introduce a horticulture strategy; and protect UK food and farming standards in trade deals.
Comment from our Sustainable Farming team: We welcome pledges from some of the parties to increase the Environmental Land Management (ELMs) farm payments budget and offer new funds for farmers, but clarity on spending priorities is needed. The two major parties disappointingly lacked detail on supply chain fairness. In comparison, it’s encouraging to see support from the Lib Dems, Green party and Plaid Cymru for strengthening the Groceries Code Adjudicator, aligning with Sustain’s Manifesto. Additionally, the Lib Dem and Green party commitments to tackle farm antibiotic overuse are helpful. We also welcome the Lib Dem, Labour, and Conservative parties' recognition of the need for a Land Use Framework. Attention to the struggling UK horticulture sector was disappointingly lacking from most manifestos, except for the promising Green party commitment to expanding UK horticulture and bringing it back to the urban fringe.
Conservative
- Legally binding target for farmers to enhance food security feeding into a Land Use Framework.
- A new UK-wide £20 million Farming Innovation Fund.
- Fast-track permissions for farming infrastructure such as glasshouses, slurry and grain stores, and small-scale reservoirs.
- Prioritise cutting-edge technology in areas such as fertilisers and vertical farming.
- “Standing up for farmers” in new trade deals: All food and drink products imported into the UK, must comply with the UK’s high standards.
Labour
- Introduce a land-use framework and make ELMs work for farmers and nature.
- Improve animal welfare.
Lib Dems
- An extra £1 billion for Environmental Land Management (ELMs) schemes.
- Strengthen the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).
- Ensure farmers receive proper advice on transitioning to new environment farm payment schemes.
- Match the EU's stricter rules on preventative use of antibiotics.
- Introduce a Land and Sea Use Framework.
- Reward farmers to reduce the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.
Greens
- Almost triple support to farmers over the next 5-year parliament to support the transition to nature-friendly farming.
- Will push for an end to factory farming, enforce maximum stocking densities and prohibit the routine use of antibiotics in farm animals.
- Encourage a move to mixed farming along with a reduction in meat and dairy production and implement new horticulture support for fruit and vegetable production.
- Link farm payments to a reduction in the use of pesticides and other agro-chemicals.
- Increase domestic food production and expanding local horticulture.
- Rebalance power between big food companies and local alternatives such as local food networks, community-supported agriculture and other co-operatives.
Reform
- Increase the farming budget to £3bn.
- Introduce a target for 70% of the food we consume in the UK to be UK produced.
- Stop supermarket price fixing, granting powers to the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure fair pricing.
- Change planning laws to support farm shops with zero business rates.
- Boost smaller food processors and abattoirs through tax breaks and other incentives.
- Offer subsidised courses at Agricultural Colleges and apprenticeships to help young people learn farming ‘craft’ and business management.
SNP
- Provide sustainable funding for farming.
- Increase funding for farming to at least pre-Brexit levels.
Plaid Cymru
- Improve transparency within the supply chain and strengthen the Groceries Code Adjudicator to tackle unfair practice.
- Build local food infrastructure such as processing capacity.
- Give Wales a veto over future trade deals that undermine Welsh farmers.
- Demand more flexibility with the Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI) on tree cover demands.
- Move away from the ‘costs incurred/income foregone’ funding model.
- Use procurement policy to shorten supply chains, cut food miles and create local jobs.
Our ask: Sustain’s Manifesto called on all political parties to set robust standards for food in public institutions; clean up our rivers by focusing on the impact of intensive livestock units; make our planning system work for the planet and communities; and properly fund our environmental protection bodies such as the Environment Agency
Comment from our Climate and Nature team: We welcomed the public sector food procurement commitments from Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and the Green party, although there is no guarantee these will be legally binding. There was a disappointing lack of detail on tackling river pollution caused by agriculture. It was good to see the renewed commitment from the Lib Dems and the Green party to support non-meat protein innovation and meat reduction, as well as a shift to company responsibility rather than individual action. Overall, we hope the next government will address industrial, intensive meat production's impact on river pollution and the climate, ensure the public sector food procurement standards are legally binding, and champion reductions in meat and dairy consumption in an accessible and affordable way.
Conservative
- At least 50% of public sector food expenditure on food produced locally or to higher environmental production standards.
- Reform the Climate Change Committee, giving it a mandate to consider cost.
- Abolish ‘nutrient neutrality’ rules.
New laws to curb 'disruptive protests'. [Which could affect farmers, communities and organisations in our movement]
[We gave a score for alignment of these policies with Sustain’s Manifesto. We have concerns about the slowing down of net zero committments given the urgency of addressing the climate and nature emergency.]”
Labour
- 50% local or high environmental standard public sector food procurement target.
- Improve access to nature, promote biodiversity, and protect our landscapes and wildlife.
- Meet Environment Act targets.
Reduce waste by moving to a circular economy.
Aim to be climate leaders at home to restore the strong global leadership needed to tackle the climate crisis.
Lib Dems
- Use public procurement to champion food produced to high environmental standards.
- Cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2045, and by at least 68% by 2030.
- More powers and resources to local councils for local net zero strategies.
- A duty to protect the environment for big companies, and to become nature positive across supply chains.
- Research and Innovation Fund to support technologies including alternative proteins.
- Binding targets to stop the decline of our natural environment and ‘double nature’ by 2050, including a nature-related financial disclosure requirements for large businesses.
Greens
- Encourage a move to mixed farming along with a reduction in meat and dairy production and link farm payments to reducing pesticide use.
- Free school meals based on local and organic or sustainable produce.
- Policies that ensure good quality surplus food is not wasted.
- A carbon tax to incentivise businesses to decarbonise supply chains and to help raise the money needed to shift to a net-zero economy.
- A new Rights of Nature Act giving legal personhood to nature, including requiring a move towards regenerative farming methods.
- A separate Climate and Nature Act. This will address the full extent of the climate and nature crisis in line with the most up-to-date science.
Reform
- Taxpayer funded organisations should source 75% of their food from the UK [but no mention of nutrition, environment, ethical or welfare standards]
- Abandon all existing carbon emissions targets.
- Scrap net zero and renewable energy subsidies, fast-track new oil and gas.
- Scrap climate-related farming subsidies, e.g. for solar farms or rewilding.
- Reduce Natural England powers.
- [We gave a score for alignment of these policies with Sustain’s Manifesto. We have high concerns about the over-arching plans to scrap climate-related farm subsidies and environmental policies, and no support for restoration of nature.]
SNP
- Call on Westminster to ensure fair funding flows to devolved nations to enable climate ambition given that for the whole of the UK to reach net zero by 2050, Scotland must do so by 2045.
- Establish a Four Nations Climate Response Group to agree climate plans across the UK that deliver on our net-zero targets.
Plaid Cymru
- Commit to reach net zero targets in Wales by 2035 and reversing biodiversity decline.
- Use procurement policy to shorten supply chains, cut food miles and create local jobs.
- Work towards a target of 75% of Welsh public sector spend being with companies located in Wales (no specific mention of food).
- Introduce biodiversity targets.
- Think beyond economic growth in terms of GDP and urge the government to consider other ways of measuring the economy.
- Ensure the school curriculum equips young people with understanding of climate challenges.
Our ask: Sustain’s Manifesto called on all political parties to commit to reviewing school food, provide comprehensively funded, nutritious school food for all children by 2030, uplift the free school meals eligibility threshold and expand the school fruit and veg scheme.
Comment from our Children’s Food Campaign team: We felt disappointed that Labour have not set out to review school food or to challenge eligibility thresholds to help children from lower income families. The school breakfast pledge by Labour was welcome but other Labour pledges miss the opportunity to drive healthy, nutritious and sustainable school food. We welcomed the long-term commitment to universal school meals by the Green party, Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems, although we’d like the long-term vision to address nursery and secondary pupils too. We welcome the ongoing free school meal extension commitments by the SNP in Scotland.
Conservative
- Says: "Free school meals have been extended to more groups of children than under any other government over the past half a century" and commits to: "Protecting day-to-day schools spending in real terms per pupil".
Labour
- Fund free breakfast clubs in every primary school, accessible to all children. Breakfast clubs will support parents through the cost-of-living crisis.
Lib Dems
- Extend free school meals to all children in poverty, with an ambition to extend them to all primary school children when the public finances allow.
Greens
- All children to have a daily free school meal, made from nutritious ingredients and based on local and organic or sustainable produce and free breakfast clubs for children to Year 6.
- Schools to involve children in growing, preparing and cooking food, as part of the core curriculum, so that they recognise and understand how to use basic fresh produce.
Reform
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from Reform.
SNP
- With school food being a devolved matter, the party's 2021 election manifesto pledged free school lunches for all primary school children. This manifesto mentions their record on extending free school meal provision so far.
Plaid Cymru
- Plaid Cymru agreement with Welsh Labour helped secure universal primary school meals. Plaid Cymru will continue to campaign for universal meals and expand the scheme to years 7-11.
Our ask: Sustain’s Manifesto called on all political parties to recommit to halving childhood obesity by 2030; drive food reformulation; secure a Healthy Start; curb energy drinks; and build strong, healthy, local communities.
Comment from our colleagues working on public health: We welcome the commitment to legislation to curb junk food advertising by the Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour, and we hope this will include going beyond TV and online to outdoor and other loopholes. We welcome Labour’s commitment to addressing health inequalities and the energy drinks ban for under-16s, aligning with Sustain’s Manifesto, but note the lack of a comprehensive children’s health and food strategy. The explicit commitment from the Lib Dems on expanding the sugary drinks levy is helpful, but we had hoped for policies that go beyond soft drinks.
Conservative
- Legislate to restrict the advertising of products high in fat, salt and sugar.
- Tackle childhood and adult obesity.
- Deliver a family hub in every local authority in England.
- Publish and implement a Major Conditions Strategy. [we assume this would cover diet-related conditions such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers].
- Gather new evidence on the impact of ultra-processed food.
Labour
- Ban advertising unhealthy food to children.
- Ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.
- Take preventative public health measures to tackle the biggest killers. [we assume this would cover diet-related conditions such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers].
- Tackle health inequalities and tackle social determinants of health.
- Create a legacy from international sporting events by promoting exercise and healthy living.
Lib Dems
- Extend the soft drinks levy to juice-based and milk-based drinks that are high in added sugar.
- Protect children from exposure to junk food by supporting local authorities to restrict outdoor advertising and restricting TV advertising to post watershed.
- Establish a ‘Health Creation Unit’ in the Cabinet Office and introduce a Cabinet minister for children and young people.
- Introduce supervised toothbrushing training for children in nurseries and schools.
- Challenge 'damaging stigma about weight'.
Greens
- Reducing cancer cases through investment in public health measures, such as interventions on food, alcohol and tobacco.
- Public health to be a cross-government priority.
- Restore public health budgets to 2015/16 levels with an immediate annual increase of £1.5bn.
Reform
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from Reform.
SNP
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from SNP.
Plaid Cymru
- A preventative public health strategy that rebalances resources to prevent people becoming ill.
- A review of the financing model for Wales should better consider the determinants of healthcare to meet our needs.
Our ask: Sustain’s Manifesto called on all political parties to establish a local food partnership and plan in every local area, building on the transformative work of the Sustainable Food Places network.
Comment from our Local Action team: With food policy increasingly decided or implemented at a local level, we welcome the enhanced role of local authorities in some of the party manifestos, particularly on climate change mitigation, as well as supporting them to bring in further restrictions on unhealthy food advertising, as set out in the Lib Dem manifesto. However, we were disappointed to see the lack of acknowledgment of local food networks and the enormous benefits they deliver locally. It was good to see the Green party’s pledge to introduce a food partnership in every area alongside a Local Food Enterprise Fund to grow the local food sector. Overall, we would like to see much more recognition of the role of local authorities and food partnerships in driving the food and farming changes that matter to local communities and constituencies.
Conservative
- Public procurement commitment to sustainable and/or local and ‘prioritising SMEs where practical’.
- Pledges around planning permission for tree planting and 15-minute walk access to nature [but not specifically to do with food or farming].
Labour
- Deepen devolution settlements for existing Combined Authorities.
- Local areas given more power over planning.
- Move healthcare into local communities.
- Release of lower quality ‘grey belt’ land for development.
Lib Dems
- More powers and resources to local councils for local net zero strategies.
Greens
- A food partnership in every area, and for a Local Food Enterprise Fund to be set up.
Reform
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from Reform.
SNP
- Existing Good Food Nation Act and commitment to incorporate Rights of the Child into policy offer a helpful framework.
- Demand the devolution of new borrowing powers to invest in a just transition and deliver a fair and managed transition to net zero.
Plaid Cymru
- Develop Welsh supply chains and retain value within the Welsh economy [which we assume could include food].
Our ask: Sustain’s Manifesto called on all political parties to introduce policies that ensure that people experiencing food poverty receive adequate incomes, experience a cash-first approach from support services and are protected from food crisis and malnutrition by a decent nutritional safety net.
Comment from our colleagues working on food poverty: One fifth (20%) of households with children are experiencing food insecurity in the UK. The Labour Manifesto has some promising policies, including a cash-first approach focusing on making work pay, making Universal Credit fit for purpose, and school breakfast clubs, although we would like to see more ambition. We welcome the commitments on school meals from some of the other parties, as well as the Lib Dem proposal to lift the ban on asylum seekers having the right to work, meaning that these people would be better able to afford to buy food. We would like to see the next government adopt and promote cash-first approaches and be more ambitious in tackling child poverty and children’s access to good food, whatever their background or family income.
Conservative
- Increase income “for the average worker on £35,000” by £1,350.
Labour
- 'Good work’ approach to tackling poverty and inequality.
- Committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.
- Want to end “mass dependence on emergency food parcels”.
- Develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty.
- Introduce free breakfast clubs for children.
Lib Dems
- Introduce a holistic and comprehensive National Food Strategy to ensure food security, tackle rising food prices, end food poverty and improve health and nutrition.
Greens
- Everyone to have sufficient income to make healthy sustainable food choices.
Reform
- Make work pay: Lift the income tax start point to £20,000 per year.
SNP
- Legislate for an essentials guarantee ensuring that everyone can afford basic necessities like food and utilities.
- Continue to call for the full devolution of social security powers.
- Mentions Scottish Child Payment now sitting at £26.70 per child a week.
- Scrap the two-child benefit cap.
- Urge the UK Government to grant asylum seekers the right to work [no specific mention of food, but a committment to improving the conditions for asylum seekers, including the ability to buy food].
Plaid Cymru
- Increase Child Benefit by £20 per week.
- Scrap the policy of the two-child limit on Universal Credit payments and end the benefit cap that stops families from claiming the full amount.
Our ask: Sustain’s Manifesto called on all political parties to establish Good Food Nation Acts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, following the lead set by the inspirational Good Food Nation Act in Scotland. This would provide the purpose and framework to channel policies, responsibilities and resources into the topics and places that most need attention in our food and farming system.
Comment from our food policy specialists: Only the Green party and the Lib Dems mentioned the need for a revitalised National Food Strategy, which is now long overdue. We were very disappointed to see a lack of joined-up thinking on food and farming; with a food systems approach being a blind spot in most of the party manifestos. Overall, there’s still a long way to go for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to catch up with the pioneering work being done in Scotland.
Conservative
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from Conservative.
Labour
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from Labour.
Lib Dems
- Introduce a holistic and comprehensive National Food Strategy to ensure food security, tackle rising food prices, end food poverty and improve health and nutrition.
Greens
- Tackling the unfairness in the system through revitalising the abandoned National Food Strategy.
Reform
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from Reform.
SNP
- The SNP's Good Food Nation Act aims to make Scotland a 'Good Food Nation' and pulls together the different pieces of food policy to ensure they align and work together.
Plaid Cymru
- No evidence of a specific food related policy on this from Plaid Cymru.
