Portsmouth Lib Dems join the call to back British businesses with a new ‘Buy British’ campaign
Led by our team in Parliament, the Liberal Democrats are calling on the Labour government to urge people to ‘Buy British’ as part of our plan to strengthen the economy and boost businesses hit by Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Following the US federal government’s imposition of a 10% tariff on UK exports and a 25% tariff on all car exports, including those coming from Rolls Royce’s factories in Chichester, we’re calling on the government to launch a Buy British advertising campaign, supporting local business and sending a clear message to Trump and Elon Musk that we won’t take Trump’s tariffs lying down.
Lib Dems in Westminster are also calling for an office ‘Made in Britain’ logo available to support home-grown businesses, from our world-leading automotive industry and clothes brands to local jam and cidermakers. Alongside this, we’re asking the government to introduce a suite of pro-business policies to reduce the cost of doing business, stimulate demand for British products, and encourage business owners to invest in Britain.
Trump’s trade taxes run down our country. We are better than that. I’m proud of the entrepreneurship shown by the people of Portsmouth and our history of standing up with and for each other. Now, more than ever, it’s important that we continue to champion local businesses and ‘Buy Portsmouth’ and ‘Buy British’ whenever we can.
Cllr Darren Sanders, Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council
Canada’s ‘Buy Canadian’ movement has succeeded in encouraging Canadians to buy locally produced goods. Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged people to buy Canadian wherever they can, and we think Kier Starmer and his Labour government should stand proud in their support for our businesses and stand tall against Trump.
Led by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper, we’ve outlined a number of steps the government should already be taking to back British businesses and save our high streets in the face of Trump’s tariffs and stagnant economic growth. These include scrapping Labour’s job tax and National Insurance hike and overhauling the broken business rates system.
People across the country are deeply worried about what Trump’s trade war means for their living standards and want to know what they can do to help. We need to bring the country together and show collectively that we won’t take Trump’s tariffs lying down.
Daisy Cooper MP, Lib Dem Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson
Government ministers also need to rule out making concessions to Trump that would damage our local farmers, threaten the NHS, or undermine the online safety of our children. The UK needs to stand firm with our friends in Canada, Europe, and the Commonwealth to send a message that Britain will not be bullied by Trump or his billionaire friends.