Donald Jones, Cryzine
2017-12-05 11:16:52 UTC
CZ2-01
http://cryzine.com/2/01-Brexit-famine.html
We are not preparing for major food shortages says the Cabinet Office
by Donald Jones
Cryzine
5 Dec 2017
Britain imports more than half its food, and even what it produces at
home largely relies on labour from elsewhere in the EU. Yet the Cabinet
Office says it knows nothing about the risk of food shortages.
As the shape that will be taken by Britain's trading environment post-
Brexit remains unclear, the Cabinet Office has formally denied having any
information about even the possibility of major food shortages.
The denial came in response to a Freedom of Information Act request that
asked whether things remain the same now as they were in 2012, when the
Cabinet Office issued a similar denial. For the purposes of the Act, the
department also speaks on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office.
Despite the present uncertainty as to whether trade talks between Britain
and the EU will even commence, let alone the shape that any trade
agreement might take, the denial by the Cabinet Office was categorical.
Cryzine has seen copies of all three documents - the request and the two
responses - none of which have yet been published.
The request asked for "any documents (...) regarding the possible
scenario of major food shortages or the threat of famine in the UK", a
scenario defined as "shortages in which at least 1% of the population
might be at risk of not getting enough to eat, unless emergency steps
(are) taken".
*****
Could the finest moment of Thomas Malthus, said to be the canonical
expresser of the Tory attitude towards the lower orders, be yet to come?
*****
It continues "These documents would include, for example, documents
regarding the scenario which might arise if financial collapse brings a
collapse of international trade, and importing food in the quantities in
which it is currently imported then becomes difficult or impossible."
The 2012 reply stated that "(the) Cabinet Office does not hold any
information relating to the type of scenario you describe (...) (A)
scenario of (that) severity is not considered likely in present
circumstances".
The second request, submitted last month, asked whether the statements
made in 2012 are still true today, "given the decision to leave the EU
and the consequent uncertainty including regarding the shape that will be
assumed by the UK's foreign trade relations in the near future".
The 2017 reply, released late last night, states in no uncertain fashion
that "the statements made in (the 2012) response still hold today".
The Cabinet Office repeats its unequivocal denial that it holds any
information regarding emergency food stocks.
It further states that "the UK has a highly effective and resilient food
supply chain (and) the resilience of the sector has been demonstrated in
response to potentially disruptive challenges in recent years", that "the
food industry remains highly resilient owing to the capacity of food
supply sectors and the high degree of substitutability of foodstuffs".
It is not clear how substitutability can prevent starvation in a country
such as Britain imports more than half its food.
*****
They know. They must know. Cryzine's advice: stock up on food now
*****
Explaining that "(the Government intends) to seek customs arrangements
that facilitate trade relationships with our European partners", the
Cabinet Office makes clear that it holds no papers regarding a possible
failure to achieve its intention.
The Cabinet Office's Nero-like denial comes in the face of statements by
various players in the British food industry that there there could well
be very serious problems.
* The National Farmers' Union has revealed that British horticulture had
a shortfall of 29% in its seasonal workforce in September, causing tons
of fruit to be left to rot across the country.
* Frazer Thompson, boss of Chapel Down, Britain's biggest winemaker, has
said in no uncertain terms that if the agricultural labour issue is not
sorted out after Brexit, Britain will "starve".
* The chief executive of supermarket giant Sainsbury, Mike Coupe, has
said that fresh food could be left rotting at the border if strict
customs controls for EU goods are introduced after Brexit.
* In an article published by the Royal Society, researchers have
emphasised that Britain imports more than half its food and its animal
feed
* While the Tory right paint World Trade Organisation terms as if they
are some kind of fallback in the event of "hard Brexit", the reality is
that no country has the right to trade with another country without a
trade agreement. In a country as reliant on food imports as Britain,
famine remains a very real possibility if trade breaks down.
* In July, leading food policy specialists in London, Sussex and Cardiff
published a briefing paper entitled "A Food Brexit: Time to Get Real",
warning that "the implications of Brexit for food are potentially
enormous". They found not just that "the entire UK food system is
dependent on migrant labour", but also "the UK food system faces real
challenges on food security". Their conclusion was stark and terrifying:
"The UK has no food policy".
*****
Could a population readjustment, also known as FAMINE, be around the
corner?
*****
In their words: "Supplies could be reduced, prices could become
increasingly volatile, environmental sustainability could be further
diminished, safety could be imperilled, inequalities could be amplified,
and public trust be undermined. The just-in-time distribution systems,
complex contracts, and labyrinthine supply chains cannot quickly or
easily be restructured."
But for the British government, it appears all can only possibly be
hunkydory.
We have to ask whether the finest moment for the wicked 19th century
English curate Thomas Malthus, believed by astute critics to be the
father of the quintessentially Tory and British ruling class attitude
towards the lower orders, is not still to come. Could a population
readjustment, also known as FAMINE, be around the corner?
###
http://cryzine.com/2/01-Brexit-famine.html
We are not preparing for major food shortages says the Cabinet Office
by Donald Jones
Cryzine
5 Dec 2017
Britain imports more than half its food, and even what it produces at
home largely relies on labour from elsewhere in the EU. Yet the Cabinet
Office says it knows nothing about the risk of food shortages.
As the shape that will be taken by Britain's trading environment post-
Brexit remains unclear, the Cabinet Office has formally denied having any
information about even the possibility of major food shortages.
The denial came in response to a Freedom of Information Act request that
asked whether things remain the same now as they were in 2012, when the
Cabinet Office issued a similar denial. For the purposes of the Act, the
department also speaks on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office.
Despite the present uncertainty as to whether trade talks between Britain
and the EU will even commence, let alone the shape that any trade
agreement might take, the denial by the Cabinet Office was categorical.
Cryzine has seen copies of all three documents - the request and the two
responses - none of which have yet been published.
The request asked for "any documents (...) regarding the possible
scenario of major food shortages or the threat of famine in the UK", a
scenario defined as "shortages in which at least 1% of the population
might be at risk of not getting enough to eat, unless emergency steps
(are) taken".
*****
Could the finest moment of Thomas Malthus, said to be the canonical
expresser of the Tory attitude towards the lower orders, be yet to come?
*****
It continues "These documents would include, for example, documents
regarding the scenario which might arise if financial collapse brings a
collapse of international trade, and importing food in the quantities in
which it is currently imported then becomes difficult or impossible."
The 2012 reply stated that "(the) Cabinet Office does not hold any
information relating to the type of scenario you describe (...) (A)
scenario of (that) severity is not considered likely in present
circumstances".
The second request, submitted last month, asked whether the statements
made in 2012 are still true today, "given the decision to leave the EU
and the consequent uncertainty including regarding the shape that will be
assumed by the UK's foreign trade relations in the near future".
The 2017 reply, released late last night, states in no uncertain fashion
that "the statements made in (the 2012) response still hold today".
The Cabinet Office repeats its unequivocal denial that it holds any
information regarding emergency food stocks.
It further states that "the UK has a highly effective and resilient food
supply chain (and) the resilience of the sector has been demonstrated in
response to potentially disruptive challenges in recent years", that "the
food industry remains highly resilient owing to the capacity of food
supply sectors and the high degree of substitutability of foodstuffs".
It is not clear how substitutability can prevent starvation in a country
such as Britain imports more than half its food.
*****
They know. They must know. Cryzine's advice: stock up on food now
*****
Explaining that "(the Government intends) to seek customs arrangements
that facilitate trade relationships with our European partners", the
Cabinet Office makes clear that it holds no papers regarding a possible
failure to achieve its intention.
The Cabinet Office's Nero-like denial comes in the face of statements by
various players in the British food industry that there there could well
be very serious problems.
* The National Farmers' Union has revealed that British horticulture had
a shortfall of 29% in its seasonal workforce in September, causing tons
of fruit to be left to rot across the country.
* Frazer Thompson, boss of Chapel Down, Britain's biggest winemaker, has
said in no uncertain terms that if the agricultural labour issue is not
sorted out after Brexit, Britain will "starve".
* The chief executive of supermarket giant Sainsbury, Mike Coupe, has
said that fresh food could be left rotting at the border if strict
customs controls for EU goods are introduced after Brexit.
* In an article published by the Royal Society, researchers have
emphasised that Britain imports more than half its food and its animal
feed
* While the Tory right paint World Trade Organisation terms as if they
are some kind of fallback in the event of "hard Brexit", the reality is
that no country has the right to trade with another country without a
trade agreement. In a country as reliant on food imports as Britain,
famine remains a very real possibility if trade breaks down.
* In July, leading food policy specialists in London, Sussex and Cardiff
published a briefing paper entitled "A Food Brexit: Time to Get Real",
warning that "the implications of Brexit for food are potentially
enormous". They found not just that "the entire UK food system is
dependent on migrant labour", but also "the UK food system faces real
challenges on food security". Their conclusion was stark and terrifying:
"The UK has no food policy".
*****
Could a population readjustment, also known as FAMINE, be around the
corner?
*****
In their words: "Supplies could be reduced, prices could become
increasingly volatile, environmental sustainability could be further
diminished, safety could be imperilled, inequalities could be amplified,
and public trust be undermined. The just-in-time distribution systems,
complex contracts, and labyrinthine supply chains cannot quickly or
easily be restructured."
But for the British government, it appears all can only possibly be
hunkydory.
We have to ask whether the finest moment for the wicked 19th century
English curate Thomas Malthus, believed by astute critics to be the
father of the quintessentially Tory and British ruling class attitude
towards the lower orders, is not still to come. Could a population
readjustment, also known as FAMINE, be around the corner?
###