Speaking shortly after the launch of the county’s food and drink awards in March, Mike Reader MP admits that the past 18 months have involved a steep learning curve generally – and has been a curve that has driven his passion for the food industry, it’s vital role in our lives and the challenges it faces.
Mike was elected MP for Northampton South in the 2024 general election. His background was in civil engineering and construction and, having seen the effects of austerity on the public sector – leaving schools, hospitals and public buildings struggling to function in run down and under-funded buildings – he decided that new blood was needed in Westminster.
It’s been nearly two years since he first took his seat in the House, time he describes as being ‘an eye opener but a new and exciting time’. And, during that time, his interest in the food sector and the idea of ‘farm to fork’ and a focus on food security has grown.
“It was while campaigning for election that I began to get approaches from a lot of groups; food producers and organisations like the Food and Drink Federation, who highlighted the challenges the sector is facing,” he said.
“Food security is something that affects everyone, whether it’s the availability of food during a global crisis or being able to afford to feed a family when the cost of living is high, it’s something we need to take very seriously.
“I saw a lot of similarities with my time in civil engineering and the public sector, and the frustrations that not being able to do what you need to do brings.”
Mike is chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Food and Drink which primarily focuses on the creation or manufacturing of food in what is a £42bn GVA sector. It meets regularly with the likes of the National Farmers’ Union to discuss the challenges its members face, and with the British Retail Consortium on retail policy.
The main challenges facing food and drink sector are energy security, something that has been brought to the forefront by both the situation in Ukraine over the past four years, and more recently in the Middle East.
Health planning and tackling obesity is one the NHS’s biggest concerns, and consumer habits play an important part in that.
“Energy is fundamental to food production, and the usage is staggering,” said Mike. “Take as an example British sugar production. Around half of our sugar is produced by Tate and Lyle, and to do that at their production facility takes the equivalent output of a power station that could power a city the size of Peterborough.
“There are costs not only in production but in heating, cooling, refrigeration, in the logistics sector and lorries out on the road delivering goods.
“We also have the issue of health and obesity and attitudes to processed foods. There’s a lot of talk about UPF but we need to be realistic. The fact is that most foods are processed – a yoghurt or a smoothie is processed – it doesn’t mean they’re bad for you. But that’s not to say there isn’t a problem. A recent National Dietary Nutritional Survey shows that the nutrient value of the foods people are eating is declining, and that certainly needs addressing.
“Add to that dealing with allergies, which are much more common in children now, and areas like meeting the needs of an ageing population – producing highly nutritious meals for the health sector and care homes – means it is important that the legislation supports what the NHS is trying to do.
“The overall mission of the APPG is to get government to focus on behavioural change and I think it starts with a focus on the front end, how we make sure we have the best produce coming into our food system and supply chains.
“We can regulate and make specific requirements but ultimately if you don’t change the health of the nation, issues arise. If the attitude towards health changes, if people see the need to focus on food, sleep and exercise, we can hopefully help change behaviour, even if just in small, simple ways.”
All that is why Mike was there to support the launch of the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards earlier this year, having been largely unaware of the importance of the awards before his move into politics.
“I didn’t really know much about the awards until a few years ago, when I went along on awards night. I just didn’t realise how spectacular they are, or how proud you feel hearing the stories of businesses that have made such a difference to the county and beyond.”
With the second anniversary of his arrival in Westminster coming up in just a few weeks, Mike is proud of what he has achieved, insisting that among the noise of Prime Ministers Questions and sensational newspaper headlines, Parliament really does make a real difference to people’s lives.
“I stood because I decided that politics needed new blood, more people like me to stand up and get involved and bring some progressive voices into the government; those who want to do things for the good of the nation and not for the good of a small number of people.
“And behind the news stories there are hundreds of genuinely hardworking MPs in their constituencies, meeting and working with the people they represent, trying to help them make their lives better.
“I come across a whole host of issues, from families with children with disabilities trying to get out of a one-bedroom flat through to people who are opposing plans for houses to be built on their golf courses. They are all important because everyone’s issues are important to them, and we are here to speak for them.
“I can’t say there haven’t been moments when I’ve wondered if I did the right thing, but yes, it’s been great fun.”
