NFU Labour Party fringe event 2023

09 October 2023, 17:00 – 18:30

The Grace Suite 2, Hilton Liverpool City Centre, 3 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool L1 8LW.

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Please join the NFU for our Fringe Event at the Labour Party’s Autumn Conference.

Fringe events are an important part of political party conference activity and a chance for members to get involved. We are hosting fringe events at the Conservative and Labour party conferences, bringing together a range of speakers to discuss the parties' visions for the future of domestic food production and the policies needed to support a thriving agricultural sector.

This year's theme is "Food cannot fail: What's the Labour Party's long-term plan for British agriculture?". You can see what issues were addressed by the panel, which was chaired by Polly Toynbee, at last year's fringe event.

The event is free and NFU members can simply turn up. There's no need to register beforehand.

Chair: Will Hutton, Political economist, author and columnist
Tom Bradshaw, NFU Deputy President
Tim J Smith CBE, Chair of the Food and Drink Sector Council
Steve Reed MP, Shadow Defra Secretary of State

Will Hutton

Political economist, author and columnist

Will Hutton is a political economist, author, columnist and think tank and academic leader.

Will is currently President of the Academy of Social Sciences, remains a regular columnist for the Observer and co-chairs the Purposeful Company – a think tank that argues that companies’ intrinsic purpose should drive their strategy, values and ultimately profit.

Will also chairs the advisory board of the Fairness Foundation, is governor of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, a member of the Progressive Economic Forum and editorial advisory board of Prospect magazine.

Tom Bradshaw

NFU Deputy President

Tom farms in partnership with his wife, Emily, and his parents in North Essex. Alongside a small owned farm they run a larger contract farming business growing a range of combinable crops across 950 hectares in North East Essex.

The home farm is based around arable production but has also diversified into equestrian and renewables.

Tom has represented the NFU from Local Branch Chairman through to Chair of the National Combinable Crops Board.

Officeholder responsibilities 

  • Animal health and welfare including bTB
  • Climate change and net zero
  • Water and air issues
  • Clean air strategy
  • Workforce supply and training
  • Farm assurance and labelling
  • Food safety
  • Banking
  • Animal ID and movements

Tim J Smith CBE

Food and Drink Sector Council Chair

Tim J Smith CBE was appointed Chair of the Food and Drink Sector Council in August 2022.

Tim leads the Council’s work to create change within the sector, build a more productive and sustainable food and drink system and look for new opportunities for co-operation within the wider government agenda. As part of his work with the Council, Tim will be delivering some of the measures outlined within the Government’s Food Strategy.

For over three decades Tim held leading roles at several manufacturers in the food sector including Northern Foods, Sara Lee, Express Dairies and latterly Arla Foods where he was CEO. Smith remains the Chairman of Cranswick plc. Between 2008 and 2012, Tim served as Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Steve Reed MP OBE

Shadow Secretary of State for Defra MP for Croydon North

Steve Reed MP was appointed Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs on 4 September 2023 after the resignation of Jim McMahon MP.

Steve has previously served as Shadow Secretary for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor (2021-2023) and Shadow Secretary for Communities and Local Government (2020-2021). He was elected as the MP for Croydon North in 2012 following a by-election which was triggered by the death of the incumbent Malcolm Wicks.  

Event details
Start Date
09 October 2023 at 17:00
End Date
09 October 2023 at 18:30
Location

The Grace Suite 2, Hilton Liverpool City Centre, 3 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool L1 8LW.


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