Should the UK accept higher prices to produce more of its own food, energy and steel?
The UK has no general rule favouring domestic output, but it does protect some sectors: from July 2026 steel import quotas were cut 60%, with a 50% tariff above quota. Around 58-60% of food consumed in the UK was produced domestically in 2025, and the government wants domestic steel to meet half of demand, up from about 30%. Energy bills rose again in October 2026 after Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption pushed up gas and fertiliser costs.
6 Opinions
The UK cannot produce any of these without importing to make them in the first place. The uk has no: iron mines, Phosphorus or potash, agricultural machinery, pesticides herbicide or fungicides, even our meat needs imported soy meal. All of this adds to the cost of production. Farmers, producers, the government... do not set the price of sale.
It's vital that we are able to produce our own food, energy and materials, for our own security, being a farmer needs to be paid well. We need to own our own energy and materials supply for basic defense reasons. The current cost of energy is ridiculous, forced on us by foreign owners and complicite MPs
Domestic supply improves security for all three and creates jobs. High prices are largely the result of government action and inaction, both recent and historical.
In theory yes, but tbh we shouldn’t have to accept higher prices for greater food security
We need to protect our production with high tariffs on similar products. The ideal situation is when we are self-sufficient as a country.
We need to preserve UK industry so government and state owned and run organisations, including police and local councils should all have a UK first policy on all procurements.