Press Release
20 May 2026

Three in four Brits back 'Good Food Bill' as government omits food security from King's Speech amid food price concerns

Three in four Britons back a 'Good Food Bill' as government omits food security entirely from King’s Speech despite huge concern over food prices

Last week's King's Speech set out the government's legislative priorities - but food security was conspicuously absent, despite new polling showing it is the policy Britons want more than a migration budget, a wealth tax, electoral reform or planning reform.

New polling released by the Good Food Bill Campaign, led by The Food Foundation, Green Alliance and Sustain, shows that a Good Food Bill commands higher public support than a migration budget, a wealth tax, electoral reform and planning reform - across every demographic and political group tested, including Reform UK voters.

The findings, from a nationally representative poll of 3,179 adults conducted by Hold Sway in April 2026, come amid warnings that UK food prices are on track to be 50% higher by November 2026 compared to levels at the start of the cost of living crisis in mid-2021 (ECIU, 2026).

The findings

The Good Food Bill commands net approval of +72 overall - virtually identical across the political spectrum: Conservative +77, Lib Dem +79, Reform UK +72, Labour +69, Green +73.

In head-to-head comparisons with other policy proposals, the Good Food Bill came out on top for every demographic and political group tested:

  • Good Food Bill: net +72
  • Wealth tax: net +42
  • Migration budget: net +37
  • Electoral reform: net +27
  • Planning reform: net +24 

Support is highest among women over 65 - 92% back the Bill - the demographic that feels rising food costs most acutely and votes in the highest numbers.

Why now 

The findings come at a critical moment for Britain with food insecurity rising to 15% among households with children (Food Foundation, 2026), as well as the Conflict in the Middle East disrupting supply chains and driving up fertiliser costs.

Climate change is also projected to push food inflation up a further 34% by 2050 (Autonomy Institute, 2025). The UK imports 64% of its fruit and vegetables, and domestic production has fallen 16% since 2015. 

Despite this, there is no statutory framework for food policy in the UK - meaning every government can ignore, delay or abandon food commitments when political priorities change. With no inclusion of a Good Food Bill in the King’s Speech, the government chose not to change that. 

What is the Good Food Bill?

The Good Food Bill would establish a statutory framework for the UK food system for the first time: legally binding targets to reduce childhood obesity, increase domestic production and consumption of fruit and vegetables, and reduce household food insecurity; ministerial duties to consider food across all relevant government decisions; five-yearly action plans; local food plans; and independent oversight to hold every future government to account.

In February 2026, more than 100 major UK supermarkets, food businesses, investors, NGOs and academics signed a joint statement calling for a Food Bill. This was also a specific recommendation of Henry Dimbleby's National Food Strategy in 2021. A presentation bill — the Food Bill — was tabled in the House of Commons by Sarah Dyke MP (Lib Dem, Glastonbury and Somerton) in April 2026.

Anna Taylor, Executive Director at The Food Foundation said: "Britain's food system is failing households, farmers and the economy, and we know how to fix it. The Good Food Bill would give us legally binding targets, ministerial accountability and independent oversight: the same statutory backbone driving the energy transition, applied to food.

"The public understands this urgency. Reform and Green voters - two groups divided on almost everything - are in lockstep in backing this Bill. Food security is not a left or right issue. It is in the national interest, and the public is well ahead of politicians in recognising that."

Henry Dimbleby, author of the National Food Strategy, said: "I spent two years working on the National Food Strategy and the central conclusion was always the same: without legal targets and accountability, food policy would keep being promised and never delivered.

"This polling shows the public has understood that for years. The question is whether the government is finally ready to catch up."

Paul Gerrard, Campaigns, Public Affairs & Policy Director, Co-op said: "Co-op is clear on our responsibility to our members and customers to help them achieve healthier and more sustainable diets, alongside our support and commitments for British farmers and producers, who are the backbone of the food supply chain.

"We need to play our part in a transformation of the food system that can only be realised through co-operation and combined effort across industry and Government.

"However, what we’ve seen is a revolving door of seven Defra Secretaries of State over the past seven years, with successive food strategies that have done no more than gather dust, whilst pressure mounts on the food sector like never before.

"A framework, that the Good Food Bill would provide, would give us the certainty we need to take good, long-term decisions from farm to fork."

Tim Lang, Professor Emeritus of Food Policy, Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s, University of London, said: "I am not surprised support for a new Food Act is building. Report after report piles up the evidence that we need significant change in what is produced, how it’s grown and processed, and what it does to the environment and human health.

"The public gets the picture but needs protection. And industry needs to be set a clear framework. In a food system facing big challenges from supply shocks, climate change, conflicts, energy, and misinformation, we need a new Food Act to prioritise the public good."

NOTES TO EDITORS

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
Anna Taylor, Executive Director, The Food Foundation
Dr Hannah Brinsden, Head of Policy and Advocacy, The Food Foundation 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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About The Food Foundation
The Food Foundation is a charity working to influence food policy and business practice, shaping a sustainable food system which makes healthy diets affordable and accessible for all. We work in partnership with researchers, campaigners, community bodies, industry, investors, government and citizens to galvanise the UK’s diverse agents of change, using surprising and inventive ideas to drive fundamental shifts in our food system. These efforts are based on the continual re-evaluation of opportunities for action, building and synthesising strong evidence, convening powerful coalitions, harnessing citizens’ voices and delivering impactful communications.
Registered Charity Number 1187611.

ABOUT SUSTAIN  
Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, is a powerful alliance of over 100 organisations working together for a better system of food and farming. Sustain campaigns for food and agriculture policies which are publicly accountable and socially and environmentally responsible.  
For further information and quotes email press@sustainweb.org or visit us at https://www.sustainweb.org/

ABOUT GREEN ALLIANCE
Green Alliance is an independent think tank and charity focused on ambitious leadership for the environment. Since 1979, we have been working with the most influential leaders in business, NGOs and politics to accelerate political action and create transformative policy for a green, equitable and prosperous UK.

Food Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1187611. © 2016 - 2021

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