Commentary
BY BHAVINI KALARIA Partner, Dispute Resolution, International
Labour’s policy menu is designed to build trust in the economy with increased public service investment, a stronger national defence, secure borders, and opportunities for all. But what does this mean for local businesses, particularly in the food industry? Labour's focus on investment and changes to planning laws aims to offer greater opportunities to address one of the key issues facing business owners: affordable housing for staff. This is crucial for food businesses too, where retaining skilled employees is essential for operations. Additionally, the establishment of technical excellence colleges seeks to support skills-based learning, helping fill the skills gaps that many businesses in the food industry are facing. This commitment to long-term investment is underlined by Labour’s promise to invest in teachers, training, and future-focused learning. These are ten-year plans designed to accommodate supply-side changes, making the country more self-sufficient in energy and addressing critical issues like the climate crisis. For the food industry, this means a more stable and sustainable energy supply, essential for farming and food processing. Labour’s plan for small businesses gives further flavour to what businesses should expect. With promises to bring in legislation to tackle late payments, scrap business rates, remove barriers to export, and guarantee that small firms will be shortlisted for public contracts, Labour hopes to revitalise high streets and local businesses. For the food industry, these measures could reduce operational costs and open new markets, enhancing profitability and growth potential.
Clearly, cost-free promises such as reform of the planning system or changes to employment law are attractive easy wins in the early days of any new government.
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