Latest news with #BuyBritish
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Ask the Style Doctors: ‘Which British fashion brands should I buy?'
In this advice series, Telegraph fashion experts Lisa Armstrong and Stephen Doig answer readers' what-to-wear dilemmas. This week, they advise on how the best British brands to shop now and the return of the waist. Dear Stephen, I'm increasingly keen that when shopping for clothes I help feed into our economy and secure jobs for UK craftspeople. So how can I make sure to buy British? – Charles Dear Charles, This is an issue that's become increasingly thorny in today's fashion landscape – like 'greenwashing', the practice of claiming to be eco-friendly while doing no such thing, there can be a fair amount of 'localwashing'. This means that a brand proudly claims to be ' Made in Britain ', but that involves some zips or finishing being applied in Blighty while the majority of the work is done elsewhere. If you're interested, it's a topic tackled nobly by Patrick Grant, the tailor and The Great British Sewing Bee judge in his book Less, which urges us to stop our over-consumption. Grant writes about companies who are swaggeringly British in their branding, but do little to support the local economies from which they sprang. Cotton pique polo, £120, Private White VC For instance, Aquascutum and Hunter are just two 'British' brands that don't make in the UK. Grant includes an excellent glossary of pieces that are genuinely 'Made in Britain' from start to finish, including his own initiative Community Clothing, which is excellent (great socks), as well as Barbour, Begg & Co, Margaret Howell, Private White VC and many others that produce in a way that feeds into the UK economy, creates jobs and safeguards skills. Ribbed cotton socks, £8.50, Community Clothing From my own experience, I've been lucky enough to visit many factories that are based in the UK: Sunspel in Northampton, for example, which makes expensive but very, very good T-shirts, as well as Johnstons of Elgin, Emma Willis shirts in Gloucestershire and the many shoemakers based in Northampton. One thing to note is that this is a more expensive way to buy clothes than ordering from a fast-fashion retailer, where the products will likely be pumped with plastics. But I'd rather buy less and better, and little items – like Rooska socks made by a local family-run company in Leicestershire – that aren't pricey considering they're properly made. – Stephen Dear Lisa, Is there any sign of the waist coming back anytime soon? All those empire lines make everyone look seven months pregnant. – Yvonne Dear Yvonne, You're in luck. The waist is emphatically back, on the catwalks, on the red carpets (think Demi Moore's series of drastically cinched-in gowns during this winter's award season, although she was far from the only one), and it's in the stores too. A good starting place is Jasper Conran, who has made a speciality of the shirt dress in various natural fabrics and weights (from £350). Bubble hem dress, £115, Cos Anthropologie is always worth a look. Cos has beautiful bubble-hem sleeveless dresses – that sounds weird, but they look subtly different in a not-too-artsy, sophisticated way and come in soft neutral shades, although you may not go for the 100 per cent recycled polyamide sell… in fact waisted dresses are everywhere. Nothing like the constricted gowns Moore et al wore, but more gentle and comfortable for a 16-hour stint. Separates are another route to stylish contouring. My eye is on a bubble skirt and matching top from M&S in a beautiful cherry red cotton that should hit the stores in a few weeks. – Lisa
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Momentum gathers for ‘Back British' campaign after Trump tariffs
Following Trump 's tariffs on the UK, a new poll reveals that half of British adults are less inclined to purchase American products, and a majority support a "Buy British" campaign. The UK government, however, rejects the idea of a "Buy British" campaign, emphasising its commitment to open trade. The Liberal Democrats urge the government to heed public sentiment and launch a campaign supporting British businesses, viewing it as a message to the White House. This poll comes after the "Buy Canadian" movement gained traction in Canada amidst trade tensions. Despite market turmoil caused by the tariffs, Trump shows no indication of pausing them, suggesting they serve as both a negotiating tactic and a revenue source.
Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Reeves rejects ‘Buy British' campaign as a response to US tariffs
Rachel Reeves has rejected requests to launch a 'Buy British' campaign in response to Donald Trump's trade war. The Chancellor dismissed 'inward-looking' calls from MPs for a publicity drive that would urge shoppers to buy more goods and produce grown in the UK. It comes as Downing Street looks to change procurement rules to give an advantage to British firms bidding for government contracts. Answering questions in the Commons on Tuesday, Ms Reeves was asked by Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman, to 'commit to a 'Buy British' campaign'. She replied: 'In terms of buying British, I think everyone will make their own decisions. 'What we don't want to see is a trade war with Britain becoming inward-looking, because if every country in the world decided they only wanted to buy things produced in their country, that is not a good way forward. 'Our country has benefited hugely from access to global markets and we want to continue to be able to do that because that is in our national interest, for working people and businesses in our country.' Her remarks were later echoed by the Prime Minister's official spokesman, who said Sir Keir Starmer believes it should be up to individual shoppers which products they choose to buy. Asked if Sir Keir agreed with his Chancellor, the spokesman said: 'Well, of course, we're an open trading nation. That is something the Prime Minister and Chancellor have previously said. We want to see fewer trade barriers around the world. 'At the same time we also continue to prioritise and support British manufacturers, British producers… We can take a two-fold approach, we can be an open trading nation while also supporting British producers and manufacturers.' Challenged on why the Prime Minister would not launch an official campaign, the spokesman replied: 'It's up to people to decide what they want to buy. 'We're not going to tell people where they buy their stuff, but the Government is always going to back British producers and manufacturers.' A poll of 2,170 people by Savanta carried out over the weekend, from April 4-6, found almost six in 10 people (59 per cent) would support a campaign to buy more British-made goods. Exactly half of those surveyed said they were now less likely to buy US goods in the wake of the global tariffs announced by Mr Trump. Ms Cooper said the Government refusing to back a Buy British campaign was 'an insult to businesses being pushed to the brink'. 'This is completely out of touch with the British people who are rallying behind local businesses in their time of need,' she said. 'Buying British is a powerful way that people can get behind local businesses and show that as a country we won't give in to Donald Trump's bullying.' Downing Street's approach is a contrast to plans being drawn up that would see major public sector projects instructed to favour British companies bidding for contracts. This principle could apply to new transport infrastructure, offshore wind or defence investments that will be announced in this year's industrial strategy and spending review.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Half of Britons less likely to buy US goods after Trump tariffs as public backs ‘Buy British' campaign
Half of British adults say they are now less likely to buy American products in the wake of Donald Trump's tariffs on the UK, a new poll has revealed, sparking calls for the government to back a 'Buy British' campaign. It comes just hours after both Downing Street and the chancellor rejected such a proposition, with Rachel Reeves warning against the UK becoming 'inward looking'. Meanwhile, the prime minister's official spokesperson said Sir Keir cannot sympathise with the British public's support for a 'Buy British' campaign, warning such a move would 'go against our agenda as an open trading nation'. Polling conducted by Savanta on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, found that six in 10 (59 per cent) adults would support a campaign to buy more British-made goods following sweeping tariffs imposed by the US president. Those of pension age were the most likely to support a 'Buy British' campaign with a staggering 81 per cent of those over the age of 65 saying they backed such a movement. Just 13 per cent of the public said they would oppose a campaign of this nature. It comes after the 'Buy Canadian' movement in Canada sparked a surge in people buying locally produced goods, with prime minister Mark Carney urging people to do so wherever they can. But speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Ms Reeves said that 'ratcheting up barriers to trade, ratcheting up tariffs will not be in our country's interests, whether that's in inflation or indeed for supply chains'. She added: 'In terms of buying British, I think everyone will make their own decisions. 'What we don't want to see is a trade war, with Britain becoming inward-looking, because if every country in the world decided that they only wanted to buy things produced in their country, that is not a good way forward.' Asked if the prime minister would echo his chancellor's sentiment, Sir Keir's official spokesman said: 'Of course. We're an open-trading nation. 'That is something the prime minister and the chancellor have previously said, and we want to see fewer trade barriers around the world, such that we're continuing to support our economy. 'At the same time, we also continue to prioritise and support British manufacturers, British producers. 'We have a significant programme of support, whether it's farmers, whether it's manufacturers, as yesterday with supporting the car industry. So, we can take a two-pronged approach. 'We can be an open-trading nation whilst also supporting British producers and manufacturers.' Pressed on whether the PM can sympathise with public support for a 'Buy British' campaign, the official said: 'No. That goes against our agenda as an open trading nation. Business have been very clear they don't want to see a knee-jerk reaction, that includes retaliation. 'We'll keep all options on the table but we want to see lower trade barriers, not higher trade barriers.' The Liberal Democrats have piled pressure on the government to launch a campaign urging people to shop local and back British-made goods, with Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper urging the PM to 'listen to the public' and launch a 'national effort to back British businesses'. Ms Cooper added: 'This would send a collective message to the White House that we are not prepared to simply cower in the corner while Donald Trump takes a wrecking ball to people's jobs and living standards. 'That needs to be combined with a clear plan to unleash the potential of our businesses and high streets, including scrapping the disastrous jobs tax and reforming the broken business rates.' It comes after the US president said he is not looking to pause the tariffs which have plunged global markets into turmoil. The trade taxes Mr Trump imposed on goods from most countries resulted in the value of US stocks dropping sharply when markets opened on Monday, following falls in London and across Europe and Asia earlier. The UK government is currently attempting to negotiate a deal which would exempt British industry from the sweeping tariffs, with Downing Street saying the talks are at an 'advanced stage'. But asked by reporters in the White House if he was open to pausing tariffs to allow for negotiations, the US leader said: 'We're not looking at that.' Mr Trump also suggested that the levies could be both a negotiating tool to extract concessions out of other countries, as well as a means to raise cash for US coffers. Savanta interviewed 2,170 UK adults online between April 4 and April 6 2025.
