Commenting on Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review, Fairtrade Foundation’s CEO Eleanor Harrison said:
“The Chancellor said her spending review builds on the foundation of national security, but cutting overseas development aid to pay for defence in reality marks a withdrawal of Britain’s position in the world. Isolationism will fail us.
“These cuts are completely misguided: they will undermine Britain’s soft power, exacerbate food insecurity and speed up climate breakdown, resulting in more conflict and poverty. This will inevitably be felt here in the UK.
“We agree with the Chancellor that “Where things are made and who makes them, matters”. She must not forget that almost half the food we consume here in the UK is imported, produced by farmers and workers in often highly insecure environments.
“The UK Government must now look beyond our own borders and set out a plan in the upcoming trade strategy to build resilience and fairness for the people overseas who produce Britain’s food.”