Buy British, Build British, Back British

Stoke-on-Trent is a city that truly understands the value of making things. It is packed with manufacturers and makers who are world-famous for their skills. I often visit these businesses and see them working away without any fuss, yet these companies are the ones keeping our country safe. They ensure our vital national services, like transport defence and energy, keep running smoothly every single day.

When people think of Stoke-on-Trent, they usually think of traditional plates, mugs, and giftware. It is true that you can find our famous ceramics in every corner of the globe. However, we are also pioneers in advanced ceramics. These are high-tech materials you might never see, but they are working hard inside everyday objects, from electronics to medical tools, without us even realizing it.

Our strength goes way beyond pottery. Our precision engineering firms are creating the essential metal parts and widgets that are the backbone of our country. I have met local companies who are fixing the motors for London’s electric buses and others cutting the steel parts needed for wind turbines. Some are even producing parts for the UK’s submarine fleet or developing new technology to recycle precious metals needed for our mobile phone chips and supercomputers.

Stoke-on-Trent isn’t alone in this. Across the UK, you will find brilliant manufacturers in almost every town.

But here is the problem: despite having these world-class makers right on our doorstep, they often must fight against international rivals just to get work from our own Government.

As a nation, we spend billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on products and services. Yet, there is no rule that says we should buy British. Instead, British companies that employ thousands of local people are forced to compete with huge international corporations for government contracts. When we choose to buy from foreign competitors rather than our own talent, something is seriously wrong.

It should be a simple rule that if taxpayers are paying for it, we should support British jobs and British companies. For example, if we are buying new police cars or buses, they should come from British car and bus makers. We build them right here, so why buy from competitors in China or Europe when we could support businesses in the UK?

The same logic applies to housing. The Government wants to build 1.5 million new homes. This is a great goal because everyone deserves a warm, safe place to live. But to build those houses, we need millions of bricks. We should change the law so that bricks made in North Staffordshire, Leicestershire, or Kent are used before we even look at imports – if tax-payers money is being used then it should support our domestic businesses.

Even the meals served in our hospitals and schools should be sourced from UK farmers. This supports our rural communities and ensures we know exactly where our food comes from.

The Government has started to take steps toward using UK-made steel for public buildings, which is a good start, but we can do so much more. This isn’t just about buying though; it’s also about building.

Whether it is a new bridge, a hospital, or the technology for clean green energy, it should be built in Britain by British firms. This isn’t about being against other countries. It is about economic patriotism and recognising what skills and talents we have at home.

It is the idea that every pound the Government spends should be pumped back into our own industries wherever possible. It is an investment in our communities and the skilled workers who want to help the UK succeed.

By choosing to buy British, build British, and back British, we create a virtuous circle. This grows our economy, protects our factories, and secures jobs during uncertain times. It’s a small chance but the impact would be huge.