TL;DR
Liz Truss strongly believes that the UK importing two-thirds of its cheese is a national disgrace requiring increased domestic production and export.
Key Points
She publicly described the UK importing two-thirds of its cheese as a disgrace during a 2014 speech.
Her 2014 speech claimed the UK was producing more varieties of cheese than France, used to symbolize agricultural development.
Later reports indicated that her ambition to boost British cheese exports to Japan saw sales decline after peaking in 2019.
Summary
Liz Truss, as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, made a firm point regarding the United Kingdom's cheese trade balance. She famously stated in a 2014 Conservative Party conference speech that the UK importing two-thirds of its cheese was a national disgrace that needed addressing. This stance was presented as part of a broader ambition to boost British food and agricultural exports on the global stage, contrasting the UK's food production capabilities with those of other nations. She juxtaposed this with her desire for British children to consume domestic products like British apples.
This declaration highlighted an intent to promote UK-produced foodstuff variety and reduce reliance on imports, symbolized by the cheese issue. Later, her dream of boosting British cheese exports reportedly faced challenges in international markets such as Japan, where UK cheese sales declined after peaking in 2019. Her commentary on food trade often framed domestic production and export promotion as indicators of national economic strength, drawing comparisons with countries renowned for their food exports, such as France.
Key Quotes
That is a disgrace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Liz Truss famously stated in 2014 that the UK importing two-thirds of its cheese was a national disgrace. She made this comment while serving as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Her intent was to push for greater domestic production and export of British food products.
Yes, Liz Truss claimed during a 2014 speech that the UK was producing more varieties of cheese than France. This statement was intended to highlight the growing quality and variety of British food production. The claim was often made to underscore her message about improving the country's food sector.
Subsequent reports suggest that efforts to boost UK cheese exports faced setbacks, with sales to specific markets like Japan falling after an earlier peak. Her focus was on promoting British agricultural products globally as a symbol of economic strength. The initial position was highly positive regarding increasing cheese exports.
Sources5
'We import two thirds of our cheese... that is a disgrace!' Liz Truss' speech as Environment and Food Secretary at the Conservative party conference in 2014 - video
Liz Truss' dream of boosting British cheese exports falls flat in Japan : r/europe
Liz Truss' memorable 2014 speech on pork markets and cheese
"We're producing more varieties of cheese than the French!" What was (future UK Prime Minister) Liz Truss's point here? - Politics Stack Exchange
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.