In response to the appointment of Andy Burnham MP as Prime Minister, Fran Barnes, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Chief Executive, said:  "We look forward to working with Andy Burnham as the new Prime Minister, as well as his Cabinet and wider government, as we face a period of both opportunity and challenge for environmental horticulture. The priority now must be to create the right conditions that allow British businesses to truly grow, invest and thrive. 

“As a sector worth £38 billion and supporting 722,000 jobs, taking action on the cost crisis our members have been facing into for too long is essential. The new Prime Minister and Chancellor must match their ambition for economic growth with practical actions that will give our members certainty and confidence. That means tackling rising costs, easing unnecessary regulatory burdens and creating the right environment for investment.

“Prime Minister Burnham is walking into Number 10 during a summer of extreme weather, as water companies across the country implement water restrictions that directly impact our retailers, growers, landscapers and their customers. At a time when plants, trees and green infrastructure are increasingly vital for helping communities adapt to climate change, it cannot be overstated that the businesses producing, planting and maintaining them have the water security they need. This underlines the urgent need for a national water resilience strategy, accelerated investment in new reservoirs and greater support for horticultural businesses to access the funding and planning needed to improve water storage and resilience.

“Environmental horticulture is uniquely placed to present solutions to many of the challenges the new Prime Minister faces. We create rewarding green careers that can help tackle youth unemployment, our plants and trees improve health and wellbeing, and green infrastructure is essential for building climate resilience and making our towns and cities more liveable.

“The sector and the country are at a crossroads. The decisions taken in the coming months will shape the future of both our sector and the wider economy. Once again, we congratulate Andy Burnham and look forward to working constructively with the Prime Minister and his government to unlock the full potential of British horticulture and build a positive future relationship with the sector."