Ed Davey was interviewed by Victoria Derbyshire who was sitting in for Laura Kuennsberg this morning. He wanted to talk about our plan to ensure food security by giving a billion to England’s farmers and introduce a Good Food Bill in next month’s King’s Speech.

Unsurprisingly, though, the first question was about whether we supported the UK sending military help to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Ed said:

I think we should work with our international partners, particularly at the UN if possible but certainly with our allies in NATO and elsewhere and in the Gulf Region in particular to see whatever we can do to open the Strait of Hormuz. I think diplomacy would be the best way forward rather than using military assets.

“But you are not against it in principle if it’s with other countries?” asked Derbyshire.

Well, I’d start with diplomacy. You have to open the Strait of Hormuz for the world economy, for British families and businesses who are suffering. This idiotic war prosecuted by Donald Trump and PM Netanyahu, initially supported by Kemi Bademoch and Nigel Farage, let’s not forget, has been a total disaster. It was so predictable and no doubt many American experts would have counselled the President  against this. And let me give some praise to our Prime Minister. He was right to keep us out of this war. We’ve argued from the get-go that he should have stood up to Trump far earlier on the economy and defence and all these foreign policy issues.

We have already asked the Government for  pressing for a price cap and a three-month VAT holiday to cut the cost of heating oil as well as an emergency Fuel Duty cut that would bring the cost of red diesel used by UK farmers down by around £5 million over the next three months.

We are also calling for a £1 billion increase in the farming budget to support British farmers to produce food sustainably and profitably, and for farm payments to recognise food security as a public good. Currently, England is the only country in Europe that doesn’t use its farm payments scheme to support food security. In the interview, Ed said EU rather than Europe. If only…

Ahead of the interview, Ed had said:

Donald Trump’s idiotic war with Iran – cheered on by Reform and the Conservatives – is squeezing British families from every direction: at the pump, on their energy bills, and now in the supermarket. In such an unstable world, Britain needs to become much more self-sufficient, especially when it comes to food.

That is why we are calling for a Good Food Bill in the King’s Speech, to put food security at the heart of the government’s agenda, back British farmers to produce food sustainably and profitably, and make sure everyone can afford the food they need.

The last Conservative Government disastrously undermined Britain’s food security, undercutting our world-class farmers with botched funding and bad trade deals. Labour has shown it doesn’t understand the rural economy, with their terrible mess over the family farm tax.

Only the Liberal Democrats are standing up for British farmers and British food production. It is crazy that England is the only place in Europe where farm payments don’t recognise the importance of food security. That has to change.”

Derbyshire pressed him at length on how exactly this would bring food prices down urgently and how our cut on VAT  would be paid for and wouldn’t accept that the Government is already raking in extra tax as the oil price is going through the roof. 

If you do what we’re suggesting it would reduce inflation and help interest rates and therefore make it easier to manage governemnt finances.

He also argued that cutting fuel costs would help to protect economic growth.

If you take action now, you can grow the economy. The economy will be slowed down as a result of what is happening. How do you counterract that?

If you reduce petrol and diesel prices you help businesses, you help families who are struggling with the cost of living and you help the economy grow more.

Normally at this time of year, the leader’s interview focuses on our messaging for the elections ahead. Unfortunately, they get on to our hopes for gains in Scotland (“Change with fairness at its heart if you vote Lib Dem on the peach ballot and in the 10 seats where we can beat the SNP”), Wales (“Fair deal for Wales”) and in the local elections. It’s unfortunate that there wasn’t the opportunity to get those key messages in while highlighting Lib Dem answers to the most pressing issues facing the world and our food supply.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social