Lee Anderson has urged people to buy British to “back our homegrown products”. The Reform UK MP hit out at Labour over its inheritance tax raid on farmers and hike on employers’ national insurance.
He also criticised the scramble to secure from other countries the raw materials needed to keep the blast furnaces running at British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant after the Government took control of the company over the weekend. Mr Anderson, who represents Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, said: “We should be doing everything in our power to support family farms, champion British industry, and back our own homegrown products.
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“Great Britain has always been a world leader — from high-quality clothing to car manufacturing and steel.
“But under Labour, all of this is under threat. They’ve taxed our farmers into oblivion, driven major employers abroad, buying coking coal from Japan, and are putting pressure on housing and jobs through uncontrolled immigration.
“Reform UK will always put Britain first — our people, our products, and our freedoms.”
Trade bodies have called for firms to use locally sourced products.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “Hospitality businesses are keen champions of locally sourced products – from beer and cider to meat, fruit and veg – and are a crucial cog in the local and national economy.
“Our local pubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels are the shop window for local produce and many often use their menus to showcase the amazing seasonal produce that we’re able to cultivate and grow on these shores.
“With tariffs causing global uncertainty, public support for foundational sectors like hospitality is critical to supporting our local communities and economies, from farm to fork.”
A Food and Drinks Federation spokesman said: “British helps support a strong food manufacturing sector, so we can continue to make a positive difference to communities across the UK, and protect the UK’s food security, to ensure shoppers have a variety of nourishing food and drink options to choose from.
“To safeguard the future health and growth of our sector, the UK needs to remain competitive in the global market. We are calling on government to take action to cut red tape and create the right conditions for businesses to invest in innovation. This will help us create more higher-skilled jobs, nurture brands that are loved here and abroad, and ensure that Britain continues to have a thriving food system.”
The Lib Dems have also been pushing for consumers to opt for British products amid US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The party’s Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper “Donald Trump’s continuing assault on the global economy is wreaking havoc, putting thousands of British jobs at risk and threatening household budgets with another hammering in the midst of a painful cost of living crisis.
“It’s time for us to stand with our great local businesses and Buy British.
“Together we can show Donald Trump that we will not take his bullying lying down and that we’ll rally round to help our high streets in their moment of need.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch on Monday declared that it is time to buy British.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This weekend alone this Labour government has stepped in to save British steel and British jobs, and announced an £80 billion boost for British businesses.
“Labour is working in partnership with businesses to boost growth, support jobs and put more money into people’s pockets.”
“The decision to change employer NICs is giving an extra £25 billion to the NHS, which has already seen waiting lists fall for six consecutive months with Labour.
“Tory plans to cut the funding needed to fix the NHS means cuts to nurses’ pay, cuts to GP surgery funding, and cuts of new radiotherapy machines if Kemi Badenoch ever got into power.
