The government must use large scale public advertising campaign
to protect public health, tackle stockpiling and prevent food
shortages
Labour has criticised a lack of leadership from the Government on
guaranteeing food security during the Coronavirus outbreak. There
has been increasing confusion and panic-buying, worsened by a
lack of clear communication by the government, which has created
shortages of food and other essentials in some supermarkets.
The Labour party is calling for the government to use a large
scale public advertising campaign, including across social media,
to amplify public health advice, provide clearer guidance on
social distancing, tackle misinformation and provide assurances
to people about vital issues like food security. The government’s
communication has been confused and unclear, with rumours of an
imminent lockdown of London allowed to swirl for nearly 24 hours
before being denied and key information being repeatedly leaked
out.
Labour has called for the government to set guidance for all
major supermarkets to follow on any necessary changes to opening
hours, support and protection for supermarket workers and
delivery drivers, any required rationing of key products, plans
to redeploy workers from struggling sectors to food supply and
any other changes to food services, such as slots for older
people to shop in. It has also urged the government to put plans
in place for if a food shortage was to arise.
Some supermarkets are also beginning to ration the amount of
essential items that customers can purchase, while still others
are reportedly turning some customers away during certain times
of the day. Without the government providing clearer coordination
and public information, well-meaning measures such as these could
lead to even greater public panic over food levels.
, Labour’s Shadow DEFRA
Secretary, said:
“Everyone needs to be confident during a crisis like this that
they can get enough food for themselves and their family. It’s
much harder to make responsible decisions about food and other
essential supplies when you don’t know what products your local
shop might be running low on, or even rationing.
“Too often, the government seems on the back foot when it comes
to responding to this crisis. Its communication is unclear and it
is leaving it to others, such as supermarkets, football clubs and
postal workers, to take the steps needed to protect public health
themselves.
”Boris Johnson needs to show leadership on this issue and set out
clearly, both to suppliers and the public, how action can be
coordinated to ensure everybody has access to the food they need.
“We need plans that will be suitable for next week, not last
week. We need the government to be one step ahead, not one step
behind, in this crisis.”
Ends
Notes to editors
· The government spent £46 million on its “Get Ready for Brexit”
public information campaign. £2 million of the now defunct Get
Ready for Brexit campaign was committed on buying media beyond
the end of October 2019. According to the Government this media
space can be used by it or departments by the end of 2020.
(Source: NAO January 2020).
