Rewiring of government needed to get fair prices for farmers and crofters – Carmichael

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has called for a “rewiring” of government to ensure fair prices for farmers and crofters, in a debate on the Groceries Code Adjudicator in Parliament. Speaking during the debate on Tuesday evening, led by fellow Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick, Mr Carmichael noted problems in the disjointed approach to food supply chain fairness in government and the need for extra resources for the regulators involved. 

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Speaking in the debate, Mr Carmichael said:

“I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way because he has come to a very important part of the debate. First, we need proper resourcing of the GCA as it currently exists. Secondly, there is a structural problem with the accountability chain here. The GCA effectively governs the relationship between the middle link, the processors and distributors and the supermarkets. The Agriculture Act 2020 deals with primary producers in that middle link. What we need now, surely, as well as extra resources, is a process by which the whole thing can be rewired together.”

Responding, David Chadwick MP said:

“I agree wholeheartedly. He will be aware that the levy that supermarkets pay to fund the Groceries Code Adjudicator has not been increased since 2018, despite the massive increases in food prices and supermarket profits since then.”

Reacting after the debate, Mr Carmichael said:

“The Groceries Code Adjudicator was an important step forward when Liberal Democrats created it in government, but it has not achieved everything that we wanted it to in terms of protecting food producers and consumers.

“The supermarkets have taken advantage of their market dominance for too long, and that is not working for anyone but them. If we want vibrant rural communities in this country then we need a fair deal and fair prices for farmers and food producers. 

“The fact is that market is failing, and it fails to the disadvantage of our farmers and rural communities as well as consumers. We need legislation not just to beef up the Adjudicator but to put food supply chain fairness at the heart of our farming policy.”