30 years of experience on healthy food policy tells us government must be bolder

4 min read25 November

Henry Dimbleby and I have been working closely with politicians from across the political spectrum for years to progress food-related health policies.

We recognise that in many ways, our position on the outside is much easier than a politician’s.

We live and breathe this agenda and don’t face a public election to keep our jobs. Politicians meanwhile are expected to know and solve every issue, all at once, while under continuous political and media fire. The only people who truly understand what this is like are other politicians.

We decided that rather than publishing another policy report telling the government what to do about obesity and dietary ill health, we would ask the government’s predecessors how to do it.

This year, Henry and I interviewed 20 prime ministers, health secretaries and other senior politicians from the last 30 years about how to make the politics work for obesity, food and health policy. Our new report - Nourishing Britain: A Political Manual to Improve the Nation’s Health - is out today.

We were struck by the consensus and optimism. Every politician we spoke to agreed that not enough had been done to tackle food-related ill health, and that politicians can and should act. Many expressed regret that they had not done more when in power. They discussed the political barriers they faced and shed light on why making change on this agenda has failed. “It’s hard, it’s fucking hard,” former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn told us.

The politicians we spoke to described four major obstacles to tackling food-related ill health.

First, any political attempt to influence how people eat is attacked by libertarians in Westminster and the media as interfering, joyless and ‘nanny statist’. However, the fear of accusations was generally worse than the reality and many recognised that the public does not share nanny state concerns. “Don’t underestimate how much people do realise this is a problem, and do want rescuing from it”, said former Conservative leader Lord William Hague.
Second, the government faces a conflict of interest in its relationship with industry, oscillating between champion and regulator. Politicians recognise that food-related ill health has been commercially driven. Intentions to legislate are hampered by “very, very strong lobbyists” and fears about the impact on businesses and the wider economy.
Third, because the problem of food-related ill health has been gradual, it is seen as “important not urgent”. Politicians face so many pressing issues in the 24-hour news cycle, this one often gets deprioiritised. “You can’t do everything all at once”, said former Labour health secretary Patricia Hewitt.
Fourth, because the food system is such a complex and multifaceted issue, tackling it can feel like a political game of Whack-A-Mole. A range of policy levers must be pulled in tandem by multiple government departments, with consequences not always predictable. “If you’re stepping into new terrain, there is no evidence,” explained Alan Milburn.

However, the story of obesity policy is not one of impossibility. On the contrary, there have been impressive breakthrough moments. Politicians have introduced some of the world’s most robust and comprehensive policies, including the Soft Drinks Industry Levy and comprehensive junk food advertising bans on transport. These have proven effective within single political terms and have even been the envy of other nations. But we need more of them. Many more.

The politicians we spoke to described everything their successors need to make the politics work on food and improve the nation’s health.

Deploy a compelling argument. A powerful, persuasive story is a political superpower. Combine robust evidence with careful framing and existing policy ideas to make an irrefutable case.

Build a movement. The public is already supportive: it wants strong government action on the food industry and help to access healthy food. Politicians need to curate support both inside and outside Westminster so policies are received well and can be fully implemented. Nothing worth achieving can be achieved alone.

Enlist the prime minister. Food-related ill health is a prime ministerial issue. The prime minister has the power to unify government around a common goal, pushing it to the top of the agenda and authorising multiple departments to pull the necessary levers. This is true of regional mayors at the local level.

“Be bold”, act fast, no regrets. Act early in a parliamentary term and “be bold” were top pieces of advice. Interviewees urged their successors not to leave office wishing they had done more.

No government to date has successfully tackled food-related ill health. We hope our political manual provides politicians today with the tools to break the cycle of regret and become the first to make lasting, meaningful change.

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