Ashfield residents asked to support council's drive to support British firms

A motion was put forward at an Ashfield District Council meeting by leader, Coun Jason Zadrozny, which was seconded by Coun David Martin, which is calling on residents to help the council take a lead in buying British.

The motion said: “This council notes the United Kingdom is the oldest and most profitable union in history. The UK, now in this post Brexit era, should be a position to make its own laws and decisions but this is not yet the case.

“The pandemic we are living through has highlighted just how dependent the United Kingdom still is on other countries, for example the reliance on Personal Protective Equipment from abroad but our country has all the skills to have provided that much needed PPE, especially here in Ashfield, where there is an abundance of garment making skills.

“This council believes if our businesses are to compete on a worldwide stage it is crucial to have support at home. If we don’t like, or don’t want to be dependent on other countries, we must put our own house in order by purchasing UK goods.

“With support from UK residents and organisations buying goods from our own country, jobs and more investment will follow. The history and capabilities of our country proves the UK can succeed on the world stage, for example, Great Britain led the world in developing the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Ashfield Independents want this council to take a lead in buying UK goods and set a positive example to our residents, other local authorities and nationally by supporting UK companies wherever possible.

"This council therefore supports the leader of the council lobbies by letter to the members of Parliament for the district calling on them to take forward these concerns and by so doing save and keep jobs, and encourage new and old UK based companies and businesses to invest in this country.”

Coun David Martin, portfolio holder for streets, p arks and town centres, said: “We have always been a great trading nation. We need to recognise and celebrate our history of world-beating commercial success by supporting UK businesses wherever we can.”

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