Tag Archives: Parliament

Should the UK Government be buying British? – Make it British

MP demands to know why Parliament aren’t serving on plates made in Stoke-on-Trent When Stoke-on-Trent North MP Ruth Smeeth noticed plates in the Houses of Parliament that didn’t have the renowned Stoke-on-Trent

Source: Should the UK Government be buying British? – Make it British

The British Government and its Civil Service should buy British made and their procurement policy should favour buying British made. For example Parliament, the Foreign Office and the Home Office should have British made cutlery and tableware and buy British made stationery and British made cars. Where British made goods are not available then they should buy goods produced in the Commonwealth or EU. The NHS should set the example by buying British. The British armed forces should buy British made. British law enforcement organisations should buy British. When buying flags and uniforms and equipment for our defence forces and police more emphasis should be put on buying British first. An increase in public sector purchasing from British manufacturers and preference for British manufacturers when placing major and small contracts and, at a lower level, all purchasing, would make a big difference to UK makers, retaining skills, industry and jobs to build a stronger country and community. It’s a complex argument and British companies gain from being able to compete across the EU but for our Government buying British should come naturally.