WineGB launches Manifesto for Growth amid general election
17th June 2024
Ahead of the general election, WineGB has launched its Manifesto for Growth, which identifies main areas that require support from the new government.
In a week that has seen all of the political parties launch their manifestos, WineGB has followed with its own declaration.
The association said that the English and Welsh wine industry is the fastest-growing agricultural sector in the UK, which brought in its largest harvest last year.
It is experiencing rapid growth, with planting predicted to rise by 84% by 2032.
Accelerating growth of the industry
As the trade association representing the English and Welsh wine industry, WineGB is calling on the new government to “act now” and ensure that the right investment occurs, opportunities are taken, and regulatory blocks are removed to safeguard the sustainable growth of our sector.
Commenting on the launch, CEO of WineGB, Nicola Bates, said: “We are a growing industry, our producers are investing, and we are supporting them.
“We are looking at the next government to accelerate the growth of our industry. Our Manifesto for Growth identifies three key areas where we can make changes that will have a palpable effect on our community of winemakers and vine growers.
“As such, we are lobbying for fairer business, a better environment for change, and for the government to place greater value on its home-grown wines.”
Manifesto for Growth
According to the WineGB, the next government should among others:
- address the competitive disadvantages that English and Welsh wine faces in terms of domestic regulation and production costs,
- tighten up labelling rules so that only genuine English and Welsh wines, produced using UK sourced grapes, can describe themselves as English, Welsh, or British wine,
- reduce duty for wine as the UK is one of the very few wineproducing countries in Europe that levies excise on home-grown and produced products,
- on an annual basis continue the recently announced £1.5 million ‘Future Winemakers’ Scheme’ so that it becomes a regular education and training support,
- ensure better access to seasonal labour and help with spiralling costs for vineyard work,
- ensure that any changes to wine regulations in the UK do not mislead consumers.
Read the WineGB Manifesto for Growth here.
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